(AP) - The Associated Press-AOL Money & Finances poll on public attitudes about taxes was conducted April 2-4 and was based on telephone interviews with 1,000 adults from all states except Alaska and Hawaii, including 880 people with responsibility for preparing their households' taxes. The poll was conducted by Ipsos, an international polling firm.
Results were weighted to represent the population by demographic factors such as age, sex, region, race and income.
No more than one time in 20 should chance variations in the sample cause the results to vary by more than plus or minus 3 percentage points from the answers that would be obtained if all people in the U.S. were polled. The margin of error for questions asked only of tax preparers was 3.5 percentage points.
There are other sources of potential error in polls, including the wording and order of questions. Results may not total 100 percent because of rounding. An 'X' signifies less than 1 percent.
1. Do you think the amount of taxes you pay is fair or unfair? Would you say that is very (fair/unfair) or somewhat (fair/unfair)?
--Very fair, 16 percent
--Somewhat fair, 37 percent
--Somewhat unfair, 20 percent
--Very unfair, 25 percent
--Not sure, 2 percent
2. Do you happen to know what the deadline is for filing your federal income tax return for 2006, or not? And what is that deadline? (ASKED OF THOSE WHO SAID THEY KNOW THE DEADLINE)
--April 15 (volunteered), 48 percent
--April 16 (volunteered), 15 percent
--April 17 (volunteered), 19 percent
--Some other date (volunteered), 7 percent
--Not sure, 11 percent
3. What best describes your responsibility for filing the taxes in your household? Would you say ...
--You have the primary responsibility, 57 percent
--You share the responsibility equally with someone else, 29 percent
--You don't have the responsibility for filing taxes in your household, 14 percent
(QUESTIONS 4-10 ASKED OF THOSE WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FILING TAXES)
4. What best describes the status of your federal tax return for 2006?
--You have already filed your return, 64 percent
--You have started working on your return but haven't filed it yet, 21 percent
--You haven't started working on your return but expect to file by the deadline, 9 percent
--You plan to file for an extension, 4 percent
--Other (Specify), 1 percent
--Not sure, 1 percent
5. This year, how will you (or how did you) prepare your income tax return?
--Use a professional tax preparer, 51 percent
--Use a software program to prepare your own taxes, either online or on your computer, 25 percent
--Fill out the tax form manually, 15 percent
--Have a friend or family member fill out your tax forms, 8 percent
--Not sure, 1 percent
(QUESTION 6 ASKED OF THOSE WHO USED A SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO PREPARE TAXES)
6. And is that software program
--Online over the internet, 45 percent
--On your computer, 54 percent
--Not sure, 1 percent
7. Are your tax returns being filed electronically, or online, to the Internal Revenue Service, or are they being mailed in?
--Filed electronically or online, 54 percent
--Being mailed in, 43 percent
--Not sure, 3 percent
8. How SAFE do you think it is to file tax returns electronically or online?
--Very safe, 42 percent
--Somewhat safe, 43 percent
--Not too safe, 9 percent
--Not at all safe, 4 percent
--Not sure, 2 percent
8a. How CONVENIENT do you think it is to file tax returns electronically or online?
--Very convenient, 67 percent
--Somewhat convenient, 22 percent
--Not too convenient, 3 percent
--Not at all convenient, 5 percent
--Not sure, 3 percent
9. How organized are you when it comes to keeping your tax receipts? Would you say you are
--Very organized, 55 percent
--Somewhat organized, 34 percent
--Not too organized, 7 percent
--Not at all organized, 3 percent
--Not sure, 1 percent
10. Overall, including time preparing your return and organizing your tax documents and receipts (and talking with your tax preparer), about how many hours will you personally spend on your taxes this year? Just your best guess is fine.
--None, 2 percent
--One, 20 percent
--Two, 18 percent
--Three, 13 percent
--Four, 8 percent
--Five, 8 percent
--Six-seven, 6 percent
--Eight-10, 7 percent
--11-20, 7 percent
--21 or more, 8 percent
--Not sure, 2 percent
AVERAGE -- 8.3 hours
(QUESTIONS 11-12 ASKED OF ALL RESPONDENTS)
11. Did you receive a tax refund last year, or not?
--Yes, 67 percent
--No, 31 percent
--Not sure, 2 percent
12. Do you expect to receive a tax refund this year, or not?
--Yes, 66 percent
--No, 31 percent
--Not sure, 3 percent
(QUESTION 13a. ASKED OF THOSE WHO SAID THEY EXPECT A TAX REFUND -- CAN CHOOSE MORE THAN ONE ANSWER.)
13a. What do you expect to do with your tax refund this year? Will you
--Save or invest it, 36 percent
--Pay off bills, 27 percent
--Pay down debt, 21 percent
--Spend it, 14 percent
--Use it as a down payment for a home or car, 3 percent
--Home renovation (volunteered), 1 percent
--Tuition (volunteered), 1 percent
--Use it for next year's taxes, 1 percent
--Other (volunteered), 4 percent
--Not sure, 1 percent
(ASK QUESTION 13b of those who said they plan to save or invest their tax return)
13b. How will you save or invest your refund? Will you ...
--Deposit it in a savings account, 60 percent
--Use it as a contribution to an IRA or other retirement savings plan, 13 percent
--Buy stocks or bonds, 8 percent
--Contribute to a college savings fund, 7 percent
--Buy real estate, 1 percent
--Invest it some other way? (Specify), 6 percent
--Not sure, 6 percent
(QUESTION 13c. ASKED OF THOSE WHO PLAN TO PAY OFF BILLS)
13c. What kind of bills will you pay off?
--Credit card bills, 42 percent
--Make your rent or mortgage payment, 18 percent
--Utility bills, 12 percent
--Hospital-doctor bill (volunteered), 9 percent
--Home-car insurance, (volunteered), 3 percent
--Property tax, (volunteered) 3 percent
--Home improvement (volunteered) 1 percent
--Pay some other kind of bill, 11 percent
--Not sure, 3 percent
(QUESTION 13d ASKED OF THOSE WHO PLAN TO PAY DOWN DEBT)
13d. What kind of debt will you pay down?
--Credit card debt, 58 percent
--Student loan debt, 10 percent
--Home equity loans, 8 percent
--Mortgage loans, 7 percent
--Personal loans, 5 percent
--Property tax, (volunteered) 2 percent
--Some other kind of debt, 10 percent
--Not sure, 2 percent
(QUESTION 13e. ASKED OF THOSE WHO SAID THEY PLAN TO SPEND THEIR TAX REFUND.)
13e. And how will you spend your tax refund? Will you ...
--Use it for everyday needs like food and clothing, 36 percent
--Go on a vacation, 19 percent
--Go on a shopping spree, 15 percent
--Home improvement (volunteered), 10 percent
--Spend it some other way, 18 percent
--Not sure, 2 percent
(QUESTION 13F ASKED OF THOSE WHO PLAN TO USE IT FOR A DOWN PAYMENT)
13f. And will you use it as a down payment for
--A car, 55 percent
--A home, 42 percent
--Not sure, 3 percent
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