An overwhelming majority of Americans don't want Trump tax cuts to expire

A majority of Americans don’t support raising taxes, according to a new poll, which also bodes well for support of President Trump’s plans to cut taxes and federal spending.

According to the survey, 68% of voters say that their taxes are too high, including 30% who say they are way too high. The remaining 32% say their taxes are about the right amount, according to the poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the conservative activist group Americans for Prosperity.

Voters are also increasingly aware that portions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will expire at the end of 2025, increasing tax rates unless Mr. Trump succeeds in getting Congress to act.

Over half (58%) have heard a lot or some about the expiring 2017 law, also known as the Trump tax cuts.

This is a significant increase from last September, when just 40% had heard a lot or some about it,

The poll also revealed that 80% of voters say that now is a bad time to increase taxes, a 4% jump from September, when 76% said it was a bad time.

Only 3% say it would be a good time to hike taxes, while the remaining 17% say now is neither a bad time nor a good time to make such an increase.

The survey asked voters about the best way to reduce the deficit. Just over half (51%) chose cutting government spending, 44% said growing the economy, with 5% chose raising taxes.  

The overwhelming majority said that the current tax rates should be kept in place.

Asked if the tax cuts should fully expire at the end of 2025, 84% said they would support keeping the current tax rates in place, while 16% would let taxes increase.

This sentiment extended across partisan lines, with 95% of Republicans, 81% of independents, and 74% of Democrats saying they want to keep the current tax rates.

Some congressional Republicans have been mulling a 40% top tax rate on incomes above $1 million, but the move is getting pushback from GOP leaders and conservative activists.

President Trump was asked last month if he would support higher taxes on the wealthy to pay for his plan to nix taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits.

“I would not mind personally paying more,” he said. “But the concept is something that may not be acceptable to the public.”

Mr. Trump also said a tax increase on millionaires “would be very disruptive” and prompt many wealthy people to leave the U.S.

Voting to extend the 2017 tax rates is a political winner for lawmakers running for reelection, according to the Americans for Prosperity survey.

The poll found that 63% of voters would be more likely to vote for a member of Congress who votes to keep taxes from increasing by extending the 2017 tax cuts.

This includes majorities of key swing groups such as independents (59%), seniors (67%), moderates (61%) and suburban voters (65%).