---
title: "Most Democrats Say Rich Pay Too Little in Taxes"
description: "While most Democrats say upper-income people pay too little in federal taxes, just a third of Republicans agree"
date: "2012-09-21"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/09/21/most-democrats-say-rich-pay-too-little-in-taxes/"
---

# Most Democrats Say Rich Pay Too Little in Taxes

Partisans have widely different views about whether upper-income Americans pay their fair share of federal taxes.

Among Democrats, a strong majority (78%) say upper-income people pay too little in taxes. Only 33% of Republicans agree. A solid majority of Republicans say upper-income people pay either their fair share (44%) or too much (14%). Some 13% of Democrats say upper-income people pay their fair share in taxes, while 4% say the rich are paying too much.

Looking at the public as a whole, 58% say that upper-income people pay too little in federal taxes. One-in-four (26%) say upper-income people pay their fair share in taxes, and 8% say they pay too much in taxes. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2012/08/27/yes-the-rich-are-different/)