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Questions - Tax Code - February 17-18, 2013

44% Say Tax Deductions Help Upper-Income Americans The Most
73% Oppose Taxing Health Care Benefits Provided by Employers
When It Comes to Taxes, Americans Put Income Ahead of Marriage & Children
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National Survey of 1,000 Adults
Conducted February 17-18, 2013
By Rasmussen Reports

1* A proposal has been made to throw out the existing federal income tax code and replace it with a simpler system that has fewer deductions and lower tax rates. Thinking of all the issues facing the nation today, how important is it to replace the existing federal income tax code with something simpler?

2* The federal income tax includes personal deductions for many things including mortgage payments and charitable contributions. Who do tax deductions help the most—middle class Americans or upper-income Americans?

3* A proposal has been made that would reduce the personal income tax deductions for people who make more than $150,000 a year. Personal deductions would be completely eliminated for those who earn more than $250,000 a year. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?

4* Under current law, health insurance benefits provided by employers are tax free. The benefits were taxed, taxes would go up for all workers with health insurance. It would also raise $150 billion a year for the government. Do you favor or oppose taxing health insurance benefits provided by employers?

5* A proposal has been made that would keep health insurance benefits tax free for those who make less than $100,000. The benefits would be partially tax for those who make between $100,000 and $200,000 a year. Health insurance benefits would be fully taxed for those who make $200,000 a year. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

6* Two people are married and both are working, they will often pay higher taxes than if they are unmarried. Should this marriage penalty be eliminated?

7* Should the tax code be structured so that two working people who are married pay less in taxes than they would if they are unmarried?

8* Is it more important to provide tax relief for young families with children or to make sure that everyone with a certain income pays the same rate in taxes?

9* A proposal has been made that would eliminate all tax deductions for upper income Americans and let everyone earn up to $20,000 a year tax free. After that, everyone would pay 15% in taxes on their first $100,000 in taxable income, 25% on income between $100,000 and $200,000, and 30% on all income over $200,000. If it raised the same amount of money as the current tax code, would you favor or oppose this proposal?

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence