60% of Americans feel they pay too much in federal taxes: AP-NORCS poll

A recent poll conducted in January has found that most Americans believe they are paying too much in federal income taxes. 

The survey, conducted by AP-NORCS and analyzed IRS data from 2021, found that a considerable majority, 60 percent of respondents, feel they pay "too much" in federal income taxes. Only 27 percent of Americans stated that their federal income taxes are fair.

Just 18 percent of respondents went on to correctly identify which group in the US pays the most in federal taxes.

The discrepancy in perception versus reality stems from the nature of the US tax system, which operates on a progressive basis. Under this system, individuals with higher incomes incur a proportionally higher tax rate compared to those with lower earnings.

The data analyzed in the study, as reported by CBS News, underscores the significant contrast in tax burdens across income brackets. On average, taxpayers in the United States pay approximately $14,000 annually in federal taxes, excluding payroll taxes such as Social Security. However, when income levels are taken into account, the discrepancies become glaringly evident.

Individuals within the bottom half of the income spectrum face a significantly lower tax bill, with an average annual payment of a mere $667. But for income-earners in the top 50 percent, that number increases to $27,891.

But what about the top 1 percent of income earners, who are often accused by those on the left for not “paying their fair share?”

According to the data, the top 1 percent of income earners in the US are paying an average of $653,730 in income taxes. This demographic is also responsible for paying nearly half (45.8 percent) of all federal income tax dollars.

In fact, the top 50 percent of income earners are responsible for nearly all federal income tax revenue, contributing a staggering 97.7% collectively.

Despite these facts, a Pew Research study suggests that a considerable majority of Americans (60 percent) hold the belief that the wealthiest among us are not “paying their fair share” in taxes. But the data proves this not to be the case, revealing that the highest earners are indeed shouldering a disproportionate burden of the nation's tax obligations.