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Americans Don't Like the IRS, but Admit It Does a Good Job of Collecting Taxes

Americans Don't Like the IRS, but Admit It Does a Good Job of Collecting Taxes

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


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/2995/americans-dont-like-irs-admit-does-good-job-collecting-taxes.aspx
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