A near record-low number of Americans feel their income taxes are “fair” this season
As the old adage popularized by Benjamin Franklin reminds us, nothing in life is certain except death and taxes, though that doesn’t mean that anyone’s ever been thrilled about either. Now, with this year’s IRS filing deadline tomorrow, a near record share of Americans say their income taxes are “not fair” this season, per recent Gallup polling.
According to the survey from March, just 46% of Americans said they felt that the income tax they’ll pay this year is “fair” — just above the record low of 45% set in 1999. Meanwhile, half of respondents said that they felt the exact opposite, with that cohort having risen steadily from the 35% mark seen as recently as 2017. Some 59% of respondents said that the amount of income tax they pay is “too high,” with a record 58% saying that lower-income people pay “too much.”
With America’s rising perception of unfairness likely tied to rising prices and inflation observed more broadly in recent years, according to Gallup analysis, if President Trump isn’t able to extend tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year, the 2026 results might be even less positive.
According to the survey from March, just 46% of Americans said they felt that the income tax they’ll pay this year is “fair” — just above the record low of 45% set in 1999. Meanwhile, half of respondents said that they felt the exact opposite, with that cohort having risen steadily from the 35% mark seen as recently as 2017. Some 59% of respondents said that the amount of income tax they pay is “too high,” with a record 58% saying that lower-income people pay “too much.”
With America’s rising perception of unfairness likely tied to rising prices and inflation observed more broadly in recent years, according to Gallup analysis, if President Trump isn’t able to extend tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year, the 2026 results might be even less positive.
