Most Americans believe they are paying too much in taxes, with a growing sentiment that the wealthy are not contributing their fair share. As Tax Day approaches, a recent survey shows that 59% of voters feel their tax burden is too high, although this number has decreased from 64% last year. Meanwhile, only 38% say their taxes are about right, and a mere 2% feel they are too low.
This concern over taxes is a longstanding issue. The percentage of those who believe taxes are high has fluctuated over the years, with the lowest point recorded at 51% in 2004. Across political lines, a significant majority of Republicans (65%), independents (61%), and even 51% of Democrats share the view that their taxes are excessive. The decline in those feeling overtaxed is primarily among Republicans and independents, both down by 11 points since March of this year.
Interestingly, a rising number of voters express frustration over the wealthiest individuals not paying enough in taxes. Currently, 45% of respondents cite this as their primary concern regarding federal income taxes, marking an increase from 34% in 2019 and 28% in 2014. Among Democrats, the belief that the rich aren’t paying enough has surged by 30 points since 2014, while independents and Republicans have seen increases of 14 and 5 points, respectively.
Voters’ frustrations extend beyond just high taxes. A significant portion, 26%, are also upset with how the government spends taxpayer money. Additional concerns include the overall tax amount (12%), the complexity of the tax system (7%), and instances of people not paying taxes at all (7%).
When examining income levels, the trend remains consistent, showing a broad concern among voters from all backgrounds about the issue of the wealthy not contributing enough.
Overall, these findings reflect a critical need for policymakers to address tax fairness and spending practices as Americans continue to voice their concerns over the current system.
