In a recent poll conducted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, it was revealed that a majority of U.S. taxpayers feel they pay too much in taxes and believe they receive a poor value in return.

As tax season begins, the survey found that two-thirds of taxpayers believe they spend "too much" on federal income taxes. A similar sentiment was expressed regarding local property taxes, with about 7 in 10 taxpayers feeling the same way. Additionally, roughly 6 in 10 respondents expressed dissatisfaction with state sales tax.

The results of the poll also highlighted a notable divide in opinions between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans were more likely to view taxes as unfair, believe they were paying too much, and perceive taxes as a poor value compared to their Democratic counterparts.

Furthermore, the survey indicated that few U.S. adults have a high level of confidence that the institutions responsible for utilizing their tax dollars – whether it be the federal government or local school districts – spend those taxes in the best interest of the taxpayers themselves. However, there was slightly more trust placed in governing bodies at the local level, with 16% expressing confidence in their local school district compared to a mere 6% for the federal government.

Interestingly, the poll findings also highlighted that older adults, specifically those aged 60 and above, were more likely to perceive taxes as fair.

Chris Berry, a professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy who was involved in the creation of the poll, noted that public opinion about taxes and trust in government has declined overall. Berry attributed this decline partly to increased political polarization but noted that local government has historically been viewed as less partisan, leading to higher levels of trust.

The survey also delved into taxpayer preferences for government services in relation to their tax bills. Among those who pay federal income taxes, half stated a preference for fewer government services if it meant reducing their tax burden. One-third favored maintaining their taxes at the current level in exchange for the same services, while 16% were willing to increase taxes for more services.

The poll revealed that approximately 1 in 4 taxpayers believed they received a good value from paying federal income tax, state sales tax, or local property tax. On the other hand, about 1 in 3 respondents deemed the value as poor, while roughly 4 in 10 perceived the value as neither good nor bad.

The survey also examined attitudes towards the fairness of various types of taxes. The majority of U.S. adults considered federal income tax and local property tax to be "unfair," and approximately half expressed the same sentiment about state income tax, sales tax, and the federal Social Security tax.

Overall, the poll provided a glimpse into the diverse opinions and concerns held by U.S. taxpayers regarding taxes and the utilization of their tax dollars. It revealed a widespread feeling that taxes are too burdensome and the corresponding services provided are not meeting expectations.