Peter Brown, Assistant Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 535-6203 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact: Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FOR RELEASE: APRIL 11, 2013

AMERICAN VOTERS SAY 2-1 TAXES ARE TOO COMPLICATED, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY NATIONAL POLL FINDS; BUT MOST SAY THEY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE
Almost two-thirds of American voters, 64 percent, have someone else prepare their federal income tax return and say 64 31 percent that the federal income tax system is too complicated, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. They personally pay their fair share of taxes, 57 percent of American voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, while 36 percent say they pay more than their fair share and 3 percent say they pay less. Opinions about income groups are: 55 percent say the rich pay less than fair share, while 14 percent say more and 24 percent say the rich pay about the right amount; 35 percent say lower income people pay more than their fair share, while 19 percent say less and 39 percent say about right; 50 percent say middle-income people pay more than their fair share, while 4 percent say less and 42 percent say about right. Eliminating most deductions and lowering overall tax rates would be a good idea, voters say 47 35 percent. This change would not affect their tax bill, 41 percent of voters say, while 29 percent say they would pay more and 20 percent say they would pay less. By 2-1 margins, American voters say the system is too complicated and that they get someone else to do their taxes, said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. And while almost everyone gripes about paying taxes, most voters say they pay their fair share, while about a third say they pay too much. There is only a small gender difference on tax preparation, as 36 percent of men and 31 percent of women do it themselves. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/April 11, 2013 page 2 More than half of voters, 55 percent, say the rich pay less than their fair share of taxes, while 19 percent say those with lower incomes pay too little and only 4 percent say the middle class fails to hold up its obligations, said Brown. And only 3 percent say they personally pay too little. The strongest support for reforming the tax system to lower rates with fewer deductions is among Republicans, 56 27 percent, with independent voters supporting it 45 36 percent and Democrats divided 43 41 percent. Support for reform rises with income, from 43 40 percent among those making less than $50,000 per year to 55 32 percent among those making more than $100,000 per year. There is a large gender gap as men support reform 56 31 percent, while women are divided 40 39 percent. By a large 71 21 percent margin, including 62 28 percent among Republicans, American voters say Congress should close tax loopholes for people with higher incomes. From March 26 April 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,711 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more information or RSS feed, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

30. Do you feel people with higher incomes pay more than their fair share in federal income taxes, less than their fair share, or is the amount they pay about right? Tot More than fair share 14% Less than fair share 55 About right 24 DK/NA 7 Rep 26% 32 34 8 Dem 5% 74 15 6 Ind 14% 55 25 6 Men 16% 52 26 6 Wom 13% 58 22 8 Wht 16% 54 24 6 Blk 7% 64 21 7 Hsp 11% 48 24 17

COLLEGE DEG Yes No More than fair share 18% Less than fair share 54 About right 24 DK/NA 4 13% 55 24 8

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 11% 59 21 9 12% 57 27 3 20% 48 27 5

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 11% 57 26 7 17% 55 23 5 15% 54 22 9

31. Do you feel people with lower incomes pay more than their fair share in federal income taxes, less than their fair share, or is the amount they pay about right? Tot More than fair share 35% Less than fair share 19 About right 39 DK/NA 7 Rep 20% 33 40 7 Dem 46% 5 42 6 Ind 35% 19 40 6 Men 32% 22 40 6 Wom 38% 15 39 8 Wht 31% 20 43 6 Blk 57% 10 24 9 Hsp 43% 10 37 10

COLLEGE DEG Yes No More than fair share 28% Less than fair share 24 About right 42 DK/NA 6 38% 16 38 8

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 45% 11 38 6 31% 22 41 5 21% 27 47 5

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 44% 11 41 4 32% 22 42 5 33% 19 37 10

32. Do you feel people with middle incomes pay more than their fair share in federal income taxes, less than their fair share, or is the amount they pay about right? Tot More than fair share 50% Less than fair share 4 About right 42 DK/NA 4 Rep 50% 3 43 5 Dem 50% 4 43 4 Ind 49% 4 44 4 Men 46% 6 45 3 Wom 54% 2 39 5 Wht 49% 3 43 4 Blk 53% 3 40 4 Hsp 43% 7 40 10

COLLEGE DEG Yes No More than fair share 49% Less than fair share 4 About right 45 DK/NA 2 51% 4 40 5

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 48% 4 42 7 52% 4 43 1 51% 4 44 1

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 38% 6 50 5 56% 3 39 2 51% 3 41 6

33. And how about you, do you feel you pay more than your fair share in federal income taxes, less than your fair share, or is the amount you pay about right? Tot More than fair share 36% Less than fair share 3 About right 57 DK/NA 4 Rep 39% 3 55 3 Dem 31% 3 63 3 Ind 37% 3 56 4 Men 36% 4 57 2 Wom 36% 3 56 5 Wht 34% 4 58 4 Blk 46% 2 50 2 Hsp 39% 4 50 7

COLLEGE DEG Yes No More than fair share 33% Less than fair share 5 About right 61 DK/NA 2 38% 3 55 5

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 34% 3 57 5 36% 5 57 1 40% 3 56 1

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 33% 3 62 2 43% 4 50 2 32% 3 59 6

34. Who usually does your federal income tax return? Do you do it yourself or do you have someone do it for you? Tot Self Someone else DK/NA 34% 64 2 Rep 29% 70 1 Dem 33% 64 4 Ind 38% 61 2 Men 36% 63 1 Wom 31% 65 3 Wht 34% 64 2 Blk 25% 72 4 Hsp 33% 59 8

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Self Someone else DK/NA 41% 58 1 30% 67 3

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 32% 63 4 37% 63 33% 66 -

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 40% 59 1 35% 64 1 28% 68 4

35. Do you think the federal tax system is too complicated, or not? Tot Yes/too complicated No, not DK/NA 64% 31 5 Rep 73% 24 3 Dem 58% 35 7 Ind 63% 33 4 Men 69% 28 3 Wom 60% 34 6 Wht 69% 27 3 Blk 52% 40 9 Hsp 42% 47 10

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes/too complicated No, not DK/NA 72% 25 3 61% 34 6

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 56% 38 6 65% 31 4 78% 20 2

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 49% 47 4 66% 31 3 72% 22 7

PREPARES TAX RETURN Q34 Self SomeoneElse Yes/too complicated No, not DK/NA 59% 40 2 68% 27 5

36. Suppose income tax rates were lowered and most deductions were eliminated. Do you think this change in the tax system would be a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 47% 35 18 Rep 56% 27 17 Dem 43% 41 16 Ind 45% 36 18 Men 56% 31 14 Wom 40% 39 21 Wht 51% 32 17 Blk 36% 49 15 Hsp 37% 43 20

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 52% 31 17 45% 37 18

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 43% 40 17 54% 31 15 55% 32 13

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 46% 40 14 49% 37 14 47% 32 21

PREPARES TAX RETURN Q34 Self SomeoneElse Good idea Bad idea DK/NA 49% 36 15 47% 35 18

37. If tax rates were lowered and most deductions were eliminated, do you think you would pay more in taxes, pay less in taxes, or pay about the same as you pay now? Tot More Less About the same DK/NA 29% 20 41 10 Rep 26% 17 48 9 Dem 28% 21 41 11 Ind 31% 22 36 11 Men 27% 21 43 9 Wom 30% 19 39 12 Wht 29% 18 43 10 Blk 35% 22 35 8 Hsp 25% 31 35 10

COLLEGE DEG Yes No More Less About the same DK/NA 26% 22 42 10 30% 19 40 10

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 29% 20 42 10 29% 21 41 9 31% 22 38 9

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 31% 31 33 5 34% 19 37 10 24% 13 50 13

38. Do you think Congress should close tax loopholes for Americans with higher incomes or don't you think so? Tot Yes/Close loopholes No DK/NA 71% 21 9 Rep 62% 28 9 Dem 79% 14 7 Ind 70% 22 8 Men 74% 20 6 Wom 67% 22 11 Wht 74% 18 7 Blk 59% 32 8 Hsp 57% 28 15

COLLEGE DEG Yes No Yes/Close loopholes No DK/NA 77% 16 6 67% 23 9

ANNUAL HSHOLD INC <50K 50-100 >100K 68% 22 9 72% 20 8 78% 16 6

AGE IN YRS....... 18-34 35-54 55+ 64% 28 8 70% 22 7 75% 16 9