70% of U.S. says taxes still too high
Trump touts cuts, but polls fine less enthusiasm
By: Bart Jansen
USA Today
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump staged a food delivery to the White House and is barnstorming the country promoting tax deductions he persuaded Congress to approve in 2025, but polls reflect indifference to the tax cuts among an electorate that finds taxes still too high.
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The fight over perceptions doubt the tax cuts is expected to play out in the 2026 midterm elections, when the party in charge of the White House traditionally loses seats in Congress. If Republicans lost just a few seats in either the House or Senate, Democrats could regain control of the chambers.
..... "Every since American at every income level - there's more money in their pockets this week because of the Republican tax policies," Trump told a round-table in Las Vegas on April 16. "We've got to win the midterms. If we don't these polices are going to be taking away form you. The taxes are going to go through the roof."
..... Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said 53 million tax filers -45% of th total through April 12 [2026] had claimed at least one of Trump's four new tax breaks as part of what's he called a year of "record refunds for the American people."
..... But a recent poll found 70% of Americans still think taxes are too high. The discontent comes despite the new deductions for tips up to $25,000 a year, overtime up to $12.500, the interest on car loans for American-made cars and on an enhanced portion of Social Security benefits.
..... Recognition of the tax cutes is undercut by high inflation, including fuel prices.
..... "The cost of living is going to trump anything
- no pun intended - over any small change in tax returned," said David Damore, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
..... The average tax break from the new tax cuts was $800, and total refunds averaged more than $3,400, Bassent told reporters at the White House on April 15. [2026]
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About 30 million filers claimed hte enhanced decdcution on social Security beneifts, worht an average $7,500, Bessent said. About 25 million filers deducted overtime for an average of $3,100 each, he said. Nearly 6 million people deducted tips for an average of $7,100, he said. And more than 1 million filers claimed a deduction for car-loan interest, which averaged $1,800, he said.
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"It has been a fantastic tax season," Bessent said, and "the president has delivered record refunds to the American people."
Many still feel overtaxed
..... Despite the value of tax breaks, public reaction has been lukewarm.
..... "As much as people do not like to pay their taxes - and we saw a survey today that 70% of Casein still believe they are overtaxed - this is a great day for the American people," Bessent said April 15.
..... A Fox News poll released April 7 [2026] found a record 70% of registered voters questioned in late March [2026] through taxes were still too high - up 11 points from a year earlier. The response makes the largest year-over-year increase since the question was first asked in 2024.
..... A Gallup poll realest April 1o [2026] and conducted in early March [2026] found 59% of Americans fell they pay too much in taxes. The results were higher than roughly 50% average recorded in the early 2000s but still below levels from the 1970s to 1990s, when the "too high" perception routinely topped 60%
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A Pew Research Center poll in January [2026] also found 60% of Americans - including 66% of Republicans - say they pay "more than their fair share" in taxes given what they get form the federal government. The overall figure is up from 56% in 2023.
..... A Real Clear Politics summary of multiple polls for the tax cut package, disapproved rate for the tax cut package, with nearly 41% supportive and nearly 46% opposed during polls in January and February. [2026]
Rebranding tax cuts
..... To promote the tax cuts, Trump staged a door Dash delivery to the Oval Office on April 14. [2026] The delivery person, Sharon Simmons, an Arkansas grandmother, claimed she saved thousands of dollars by not having to declare tips, which she called "very surprising."
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"Isn't that incredible?" Trump said. "We call it the great big beautiful bill."
.... At the round-table in Las Vargas, police officer Cruz Littlefield said he benefited from having no tax on overtime. Nicole Williams, a longtime bartender said she
appreciated the no-tax-on-tips policy because the IRS monitor tipping rigorously. Erica Casale, another bartender and makeup artist, called the policy "amazing/"
..... House Republicans approved a resolution April 16 [2026] to reiterate support for the tax cuts finalized without any Democratic support July 3, 2025. The resolution referred to the tax-cut legislation as "working families tax cuts" rather than the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
..... "This is real money back in the pockets of hardworking families, small business owners and farmers," Representative Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, said during the April 15 [2026] debate. "We have heard the numbers today, and are historic - the largest refund season in our nation;s history, with Iowans seeing an average tax cut of over $2,000.
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Representative Jason Smith R-Missouri, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee that oversees taxes, listed everyday Americans who benefited from the tax cuts. "due to the working families tax cuts, Americans have more money to buy school supplies and put food on their tables," Smith said.
Cost of living eats into benefit
..... Representative Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, said if the tax-cut bill was popular, Republicans wouldn't need to pass a resolution congratulation themselves for it with a different name. "That is insane," McGovern said. "It is nuts."
..... Senate Minority Leader chuck Schumer, D-New York, argued April 16 [2026] that the tax package benefited the wealthy, with a $65 billion tax cut for the largest corporation in one year.
..... But he said the results for working-calls Americans have been "devoured" by high prices for gas, groceries and electricity. filling up a car with gas will cost an estimated $740 more this year [2026] because of the war with Iran, he said.
..... "If you're a hotel staffer,a waiter, a janitor, a Door Dash delivery driver, Trump's tax polices don't come close to undoing the economic damage he's done to you and your family."
..... Contributing: Reuters