GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- The deadline for filing federal income tax returns looms on Monday, April 17, and many Americans will be busy completing their forms this weekend. The latest Gallup poll inquired into public attitudes about taxes. While most Americans think their federal income tax rates are too high and the majority hold an unfavorable view of the Internal Revenue Service, most give the IRS credit for doing a good job of collecting the nation's taxes.
The latest poll shows that 63% of Americans consider the amount of federal income tax they pay to be "too high." This number is consistent with polls dating back to the 1960s, all showing at least 55% of Americans holding this view. It is a rare citizen who thinks federal income taxes are too low -- only 1% in the latest poll and never more than 2% since this question was first asked in 1947. Typically, those who do not think taxes are "too high" think they are "about right" -- a sentiment shared by 33% of Americans in the latest poll. Those at the highest levels of income are most likely to think taxes are too high (70% of those with incomes of $75,000 or above believe this), but even those at lower income levels agree (50% of those making $20,000 or less).
Perhaps the feeling that taxes are too high explains why Americans have a generally unfavorable view of the Internal Revenue Service. Fifty-six percent of Americans say they have either a "somewhat" or "very" unfavorable view of the IRS. Men are more likely than women to view the IRS unfavorably (61% compared to 51%), as are high-income respondents -- 68% of those making $75,000 or more have a negative view of the IRS, while only 44% of those making $20,000 or less do.
Despite having a negative overall opinion of the IRS, Americans tend to admit the agency does a good job of collecting the nation's taxes. A strong majority -- 66% -- think the IRS does either a "very good" or "good" job. Only 28% think it does a "poor" or "very poor" job. Somewhat surprisingly, conservatives are much more likely than liberals to credit the IRS with doing a good job of collecting taxes (71% compared to 58%). This is especially noteworthy given that conservatives are much more likely to view the IRS unfavorably than are liberals (60% compared to 48%).
Feelings Toward Taxes
Those who have not yet completed their taxes are probably in for an
unpleasant weekend, if they are anything like the typical American.
Gallup asked Americans how they felt about completing their taxes.
As one might expect, the vast majority do not enjoy doing this
yearly task. Thirty-two percent said they "hate it" and an
additional 39% said they "dislike it." Less than one in five
Americans admit to "liking" or "loving" doing their taxes. Those
who think their taxes are too high, not surprisingly, are more
likely to report disliking or hating doing their taxes (79%) than
are those who think their taxes are about right (62%).
Survey Methods
The results reported here are based on telephone interviews with a
randomly selected national sample of 1,006 adults, 18 years and
older, conducted April 7-9, 2000. For results based on samples of
this size, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error
attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus
3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question
wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can
introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion
polls.
Do you consider the amount of federal income taxes you have to pay as too high, about right, or too low?
| Too high |
About right |
Too low |
No opinion |
|
| % | % | % | % | |
| 2000 Apr 7-9 | 63 | 33 | 1 | 3 |
| 1999 Sep 10-14 | 68 | 28 | 1 | 3 |
| 1999 July 16 | 60 | 37 | * | 3 |
| 1999 Apr 6-7 | 65 | 29 | 2 | 4 |
| 1998 Apr | 66 | 31 | 1 | 2 |
| 1997 Mar | 58 | 38 | 1 | 3 |
| 1996 Apr | 64 | 33 | 1 | 2 |
| 1994 Dec | 66 | 30 | 1 | 3 |
| 1994 Apr | 56 | 42 | * | 2 |
| 1993 Mar | 55 | 41 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992 Mar | 56 | 39 | 2 | 3 |
| 1991 Mar | 55 | 37 | 2 | 6 |
| 1990 Mar | 63 | 31 | 2 | 4 |
| 1985 Jun | 63 | 32 | 1 | 4 |
| 1973 Feb | 65 | 28 | 1 | 6 |
| 1969 Mar | 69 | 25 | * | 6 |
| 1967 Mar | 58 | 38 | 1 | 3 |
| 1966 Feb | 52 | 39 | 0 | 8 |
| 1964 Feb | 56 | 35 | 1 | 9 |
| 1963 Jan | 52 | 38 | 1 | 8 |
| 1962 Jun | 63 | 32 | 1 | 4 |
| 1962 Feb | 48 | 45 | 0 | 7 |
| 1961 Feb | 46 | 45 | 1 | 8 |
| 1957 Apr | 61 | 31 | * | 8 |
| 1953 Feb | 59 | 37 | * | 4 |
| 1952 Feb | 71 | 26 | * | 3 |
| 1951 Feb | 52 | 43 | 1 | 4 |
| 1950 Feb | 57 | 40 | 0 | 3 |
| 1949 Mar | 43 | 53 | 1 | 4 |
| 1948 Mar | 57 | 38 | 1 | 4 |
| 1947 Nov | 63 | 32 | 0 | 5 |
| 1947 Mar | 54 | 40 | 0 | 6 |
All in all, which of the following best describes how you feel about doing your income taxes -- you love it, you like it, you dislike it, or you hate it?
| Love | Like | Dislike | Hate | NONE OF THESE (vol.) |
No opinion |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Apr 7-9 | 3% | 15 | 39 | 32 | 9 | 2 |
| 1991 Mar 28-30 | 2% | 22 | 40 | 25 | 8 | 3 |
| 1990 Mar 8-11 | 2% | 21 | 33 | 30 | 10 | 4 |
What is your overall opinion of the Internal Revenue Service, also known as the IRS -- is it very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable?
BASED ON -- 487 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A; +/- 5 PCT PTS
| Very favor- able |
Somewhat favor- able |
Somewhat unfavor- able |
Very unfavor- able |
No opinion |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Apr 7-9 | 5% | 35 | 35 | 21 | 4 |
Regardless of how you personally feel about the Internal Revenue Service, also known as the IRS, what kind of job do you think it is doing collecting the nation's taxes? Do you think it is doing a very good job, a good job, a poor job, or a very poor job?
BASED ON -- 519 -- NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B; +/- 5 PCT PTS
| Very good job |
Good job |
Poor job |
Very poor job |
No opinion |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Apr 7-9 | 8% | 58 | 21 | 7 | 6 |
| 1997 March (**) | 10% | 59 | 18 | 7 | 6 |
| (**) CNN/Time | |||||
* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) Volunteered response
