Top tax frustration for Americans: Unequal Tax Burden on Corporations and the Wealthy

With the approaching IRS deadline, Pew Research conducted a poll on Americans' thoughts about the federal tax system. The biggest concern is that large corporations and wealthy people are not paying their fair share.

The top grievances Americans have about paying taxes:

  • 61% say that some corporations aren’t paying their fair share

  • 60% say that wealthy people aren’t paying their fair share

  • 53% say the tax system is too complex - a 6% increase from 2 years ago

  • 38% believe they are paying too much

  • 13% say that lower income people aren’t paying their fair share

Unsurprisingly, Republicans and Democrats differ on their views about federal taxes:

  • 77% of Democrats say they are bothered a lot by corporations and the wealthy not paying enough in federal taxes

  • 46% of Republicans say the same about corporations

  • 43% of Republicans say the same about the wealthy

The majority of Republicans are most frustrated with the complexity of the tax system:

  • 59% of Republicans say this bothers them a lot

  • 49% of Democrats agree

A small percentage in both parties say that low-income earners do not pay enough:

  • 19% of Republicans

  • 8% of Democrats

The majority of Americans say they pay more than their fair share in taxes; however, the largest group to feel this way is upper income Republicans, almost 30 points lower than upper income Democrats:

  • 56% All Adults

  • 63% of Republicans

  • 50% of Democrats

  • 62% of Upper Income

  • 60% Middle Income

  • 47% of Lower Income

  • 76% of Upper Income Republicans

  • 47% of Upper Income Democrats

Most support raising taxes on those who earn more than $400,000:

  • 61% favor raising tax rates for these households

  • 25% say taxes should be raised a lot

  • 36% say taxes should be raised a little

  • 20% say tax rates for this group should remain the same

  • 17% believe taxes should be lowered for these households

These results are similar to previous years.

Should the government raise taxes on large businesses and corporations?

  • 39% said that taxes should be raised a lot

  • 26% said taxes should be raised a little

  • 19% said taxes should be about the same

  • 14% said taxes should be lowered

The opinion on raising tax rates for large businesses is strongly influenced by party affiliation, with Democrats more likely to support it than Republicans:

  • 85% of Democrats say taxes on large corporations should be increased at least a little

  • 45% of Republicans say the same

What do you think?

Click on this link to review the report and charts.

PEW Research, GovernmentBritney AchinAuthor: Kelly Littleton