National Survey Results: Biden’s New Tax Policies – Help or Hindrance?

Washington DC, September, 2021 – With proposals emerging from the Biden White House that would raise the estate and capital gains taxes on America’s family-owned businesses, we were commissioned to ask the American people where they stood.  We conducted a 1,000-respondent national survey to understand how Americans really feel about taxation of all kinds today.  The results were quite surprising in that reactions to taxes in America is often surprisingly unified even though everything else in politics is hopelessly divided: 

1) Americans of all political parties believe they pay more in taxes than what they get in return.  This is significant, both ideologically and politically.  Previewing a theme that is likely to take center stage in next year’s midterms, both Democrats and Republicans believe they pay more in taxes than they receive in services.  We found the animosity towards the cost and impact of federal spending and the taxes to pay for it to be much more than a partisan talking point.  It is a universally held perception.  Of particular note is the response among Democrats: a majority (52%) believe they pay more in taxes than what they get in return – a surprisingly healthy 2 to 1 ratio.  

2) Americans overwhelmingly believe they pay more than their “fair share” in total taxes to their federal and state government.  Over the past 20 years, a consensus has developed around the term fairness – that whatever people send to the government ought to be “fair.”  Conclusively, two-thirds (68%) of Americans believe they pay more than their fair share in taxes, while only 12% believe they pay less than their fair share.  Not surprisingly, the more people send to Washington in taxes, the more they feel their tax burden is unfair.  But even among (or despite) those who pay little or no taxes, a majority still feel their tax burden is unfair.   

3) Taxes in America are too high.  Regardless of political party, EVERYONE says taxes in America are too high. This includes a clear majority (62%) of Democrats and 78% of Republicans. Conversely, only 20% of Democrats and 6% of Republicans think taxes are too low. That gulf speaks for itself.  Obviously, no one wants to pay more in taxes than they have to, but this does suggest wider degree of opposition to the Administration’s upcoming tax proposals and potential rejection of additional spending initiatives that will require higher taxes.  (Note: The GOP takeover of the House in 1994 and 2010 were both triggered by voters angry with Democratic White House generated tax hikes.)   

4) Multi-generation family businesses are overtaxed, not undertaxed. Just ask the public. Americans have tax sympathy for our family-owned businesses, with 50% of people believe these entities pay more than their fair share in taxes and only 14% believe they pay less than their fair share.  This is particularly important in a post-pandemic economy where voter sympathy for family businesses is significant.  Support for higher taxes on big corporations remains high – even among Republicans – but opposition to higher taxes on family businesses is just as strong and universal.   

5) Americans don’t want to raise the estate and capital gains taxes to the levels proposed by the White House.  While “tax the rich” rhetoric is common and has support across the political spectrum, raising the estate and capital gains taxes is rejected by the public.  Just 27% of the public want to see these taxes increased – including a surprisingly low 38% among Democrats.  Conversely, a near majority (48%) oppose this proposal.  

About Policy and Taxation Group
Policy and Taxation Group (PATG) is dedicated to the ultimate repeal of estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes, and the elimination of the destructive effect those taxes have on families, family businesses, generationally owned businesses, multigenerational businesses, job creation, the national economy, and government revenues.

Contact:
Pat Soldano
President, Policy and Taxation Group
714 357 3140
https://policyandtaxationgroup.com/ 
712 H Street NE 
Suite 1330
Washington DC 20002

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