Survey: Low-income earners’ taxes too high

More people in the United States say lower-income earners pay too much in federal taxes, according to a survey Gallup released Wednesday. 

As Americans face the Wednesday deadline to pay their taxes, 45 percent of adults believe those in lower brackets pay too much, up 5 percentage points from recent years, the poll found.

Gallup said the increase stems from more Republicans holding that view. A third now believe low-income earners pay too much in taxes, compared to a quarter last year.

{mosads}Nearly 60 percent of Democrats hold that view, up from 52 percent in 2014. Forty-four percent of independents say low-income earners pay too much in taxes as well.

Gallup began polling the public in 1992 about the fairness of taxes across income groups.

In 1992, 1993, 1999, 2005 and 2008, majorities believed low-income earners paid too much in taxes.

Under a quarter of people in 2010 said low-income earners paid too little in taxes, up from 10 percent in 2005.

Six percent say middle-income adults pay too little in federal taxes. Forty-six percent say the middle class pays too much.

More than 60 percent say upper-income people pay too little in taxes, 25 percent say that demographic pays their fair share and 11 percent say they pay too much.

The poll surveyed 1,015 adults between April 9 and 12 with a 4 percentage point margin of error.