Fifty-five percent (55%) of Americans are opposed to eliminating all tax deductions even it means tax rates will be lowered, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Nineteen percent (19%) think it’s a good trade-off to eliminate tax deductions in exchange for lower tax rates, and 26% are not sure.

Forty-four percent (44%) support simplifying the tax system so that everyone pays the same percentage of tax on their income, as opposed to the progressive tax system we have now in which higher income earners are taxed at a higher percentage.

But 39% oppose a so-called “flat tax” system under which all are taxed at the same rate regardless of income. Seventeen percent (17%) aren’t sure.

Support for a flat tax is not surprising considering that 62% of adults think middle class Americans pay a larger share of their income to the government than those who are considered wealthy.

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Fifty-eight percent (58%) of both Republicans and Democrats oppose the elimination of tax deductions in exchange for lower tax rates, as do a plurality of those not affiliated with either party (48%).

Opposition is substantially higher among those who earn $75,000 or more per year.

The strong support for deductions, particularly for the interest paid on home mortgages and for charitable giving, helps to explain why Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, included those two deductions in the modified flat tax bill he introduced last week in Washington. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford also has just proposed a flat tax in his state.

Most Republicans (52%) support the idea of a flat tax, along with a plurality (49%) of unaffiliateds. Among Democrats, just 34% favor a simplified tax system under which everyone pays the same percentage of income tax, while 49% oppose it.

Just over half of those ages 40 to 64 like the simplified system, the highest level of support among all age groups.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Americans say the wealthy are at least somewhat likely to give less to charity if charitable deductions are reduced. Forty-three percent (43%) say it’s Very Likely.

Many Americans think they pay a higher share of their income in taxes than people in other income brackets. However, only 45% of U.S. voters now think they pay more than their fair share of taxes, the lowest finding on this question since regular tracking began last July.

With one week to go until the federal income tax deadline, 31% of Americans still have not filed their taxes.

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