Media

August 25, 2016  |  

Recent Polling on Tax Fairness and Inequality Issues

From Gallup, these numbers probably make the strongest case and they are consistent with the trends in recent years.  (April 6-10, 2016; Q26)

As I read off some different groups, please tell me if you think they are paying their FAIR share in federal taxes, paying too MUCH or paying too LITTLE? 

Fair Share Too Much Too Little No Opinion
Upper-Income People 21 15 61 3
Fair Share Too Much Too Little No Opinion
Corporations 16 12 67 5

Those attitudes mirror what The Pew Research Center found last year (February 18-22, 2015)

Please tell me how much, if at all, each of the following bothers you about the federal tax system.  Does this bother you a lot, some, not too much, or not at all?

A lot Some Not too much Not at all Don’t Know/ Refused
The amount you pay in taxes 27 26 27 19 2
The complexity of the tax system 44 28 17 8 3
The feeling that some wealthy people don’t pay their fair share 61 18 10 10 2
The feeling that some poor people don’t pay their fair share 20 22 22 34 2
The feeling that corporations don’t pay their fair share 64 18 9 8 1

From Morning Consult’s online survey of 1,976 registered voters from April 29 – May 2, 2016, more than 3 out of 4 support increasing taxes on the wealthy.

What is your position on increasing taxes on wealthy Americans?

 5/2/2016                4/17/2016     4/11/2016      4/3/2016     3/13/2016

Strongly Support 50 47 47 42 44
Somewhat Support 24 24 24 27 27
Somewhat Oppose 10 13 12 15 13
Strongly Oppose 12 9 9 8 10
Don’t Know/No Opinion 4 6 7 7 6

From Gallup, Not only are the results to this question on income inequality surprisingly strong, they are very consistent over time.  It’s worth using it. (April 6-10, 2016; Q34)

And for the past three years, a majority of Americans said taxes on the rich are a solution for income inequality. (April 6-10, 2016; Q35)

From Gallup, these results show the plurality of Americans thinks the taxes they pay is fair, but the trend over time is very bad for us.  Because of the trend line and the very slight advantage, I don’t recommend using this question. (April 6-10, 2016; Q. 25)

The numbers were very similar from the Pew Research Center. (Sept. 16-Oct.4, 2015; Q B72)

Considering what you get from the federal government, do you think you pay more than your fair share of taxes, less than your fair share, or the right amount?

More than Fair Share Less Than Fair Share About the Right Amount Don’t Know/ Refused
Sept 16 – Oct 4, 2015 40 4 54 2
Feb 18-22, 2015 40 4 53 2
Dec 7-11, 2011 38 5 52 5

From The Pew Research Center poll of August 27-September 13, 2015; Q43

Would you say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all the people? 

Few Big Interests 76
Benefit of All 19
Don’t know/Refused 4