After stroking a giant check to Uncle Sam today, I and other small business owners probably aren’t in the best of moods — and it looks like the rest of America is starting to understand why. According to a new Gallup survey, only 55% of Americans say the amount they pay in taxes is “fair,” the lowest percentage Gallup has measured since 2001.
But even that number seems a bit high, does it not? For those of us trying to navigate the ever-expanding maze of IRS rules and regulations placed squarely on the backs of entrepreneurs, I can assure you it does.
My initial expectation was that there would be a huge disparity on the answer to that question based on income brackets. However, that’s not what the data shows. According to Gallup, “Fifty-seven percent of those whose annual household income level is below $75,000 say their taxes are fair, as do 54% of those whose income is $75,000 or above.”
“In fact, there are no notable differences by most major demographic groups,” Gallup continues. “The biggest differences are based on political affiliation, with Democrats and political liberals much more likely than Republicans and conservatives to believe their taxes are fair.”
The poll also found that about half of Americans believe their taxes are “too high,” while about 45% say they’re “about right.” And then there’s the 2% of Americans who say their taxes are “too low,” and they most likely deserve to be kicked in the shin by a donkey.
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