Politics

As the April 18 federal and state income tax filing deadline approaches, a new Idaho Politics Weekly poll finds most Idaho Democrats believe the federal taxes they pay are fair while most Idaho Republicans believe federal taxes are unfair. Solid majorities of Idahoans feel their state and local taxes are fair.

Meanwhile, Idaho Democrats also are more optimistic about the stock market – which fell significantly in the first fiscal quarter, but has been recovering.

Pollster Dan Jones & Associates found in a new survey that 55 percent of Democrats said the stock market would rally this year and regain early-2016 losses, whereas only 45 percent of Republicans believed the markets would come back again this year.

Put the two questions together, and it’s clear Idaho Democrats are more optimistic about the country’s economic health and feel better about the federal, state and local taxes they pay than do Republicans.

Jones finds:

• 47 percent of all Idahoans said the stock markets will rally, 32 percent believe the markets will continue to slide this year, and 21 percent don’t know.
• Among Idaho Republicans, 45 percent said the markets will come back, 36 percent say they won’t, and 19 percent don’t know.
• Democrats: 55 percent say the markets will regain losses, 22 percent don’t buy it, and 22 percent don’t know.
• Political independents (who don’t belong to any political party): half say the markets are going up, 30 percent say no, and 20 percent don’t know.

Like the rest of America, come April 18 Idahoans must file their federal and state income tax returns.

Jones asked if they believe federal, state and local taxes are fair or unfair.

He finds:

FEDERAL TAXES

• 46 percent of all Idahoans say their federal taxes are fair, 50 percent say they are unfair.
• Republicans; 43 percent say their federal taxes are fair, 53 percent say unfair.
• Democrats; 61 percent say their federal taxes are fair, 38 percent say unfair.
• Political independents, 46 percent say federal taxes are fair, 50 percent say unfair.

STATE TAXES

Republicans control the Idaho Legislature and governor’s office, so it makes sense they would feel better about the state taxes their GOP officeholders impose on them.

• Among all Idahoans, 59 percent say their state taxes are fair, 37 percent say unfair.
• Republicans: 60 percent say fair state taxes, 38 percent say unfair.
• Democrats: 64 percent say their state taxes (set by Republicans) are fair, 35 percent say unfair.
• Political independents: 60 percent say fair state taxes, 37 percent say unfair.

LOCAL (CITY AND COUNTY) TAXES

• Among all Idahoans: 60 percent say their local taxes are fair, 29 percent say unfair.
• Republicans: 58 percent say local taxes are fair, 31 percent say unfair.
• Democrats: 73 percent say their local taxes are fair, 19 percent say unfair.
• And political independents: 62 percent say local taxes are fair, 26 percent say unfair.

As you can see from the poll results, Idahoans like their state and local taxes more than federal taxes.

And Democrats believe their taxes are fairer than do Republicans.

Jones polled 601 adults from Feb. 17-26. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.