by Mark Silva and updated
Nine in 10 Americans say it is "not at all'' acceptable to cheat on taxes.
That's what the IRS says.
The agency's annual survey - while it may have been conducted in August - came out today in the midst of news that another Cabinet nominee of President Barack Obama owes back taxes.
The first one - Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner - is now running the IRS.
The second one - Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle, who has now paid more than $120,000 in back taxes - formally apologized today to Senate leaders who are weighing his confirmation.
Considering the fact that Daschle is a former Senate majority leader, the apology may well be accepted. Although Geithner's tax problem was of a smaller scale, it didn't prevent the Senate from putting him in charge of the Treasury Department, which of course includes the IRS.
Obama, asked today in an appearance in the Oval Office if he stands by Daschle's appointment, replied: "Absolutely.''
The IRS Oversight Board is an independent agency that offers guidance to the tax-collectors. It conducted its latest poll on this question Aug. 22-24 - a survey of 1,005 adults with a possible 3 percentage point margin of error.
Joelle Jordan, a spokeswoman for the board, says the survey is released every February when interest is high because of tax season.
It just happens to carry a certain news value this tax season.
The survey shows that public attitudes about all of this have been consistent for some time.
The survey found that 72 percent of Americans agree that it is "every American's civic duty to pay their fair share of taxes." Sixty-seven percent say everyone who cheats on their taxes should be held accountable.
The overall tax payment compliance rate has hovered around 85 percent for decades, according to IRS statistics.
Comments
While I don't condone cheating on taxes, I find it funny that the IRS reports 9 in 10 object to cheating on thier taxes, it also has stated the following:
An estimated 30 percent to 40 percent of taxpayers cheat on their returns.
A recent report by the Commerce Department found ... a 37 percent increase in unreported income from 2000. In a separate report, the Internal Revenue Service looked at both unreported income and improper deductions and concluded that Americans shortchanged the government by $345 billion in 2001 - an amount almost equal to the projected federal budget deficit for 2007.
The I.R.S. report concluded that proprietors of small businesses, investors and farmers cheated the most. Workers who had 99 percent of their wages reported to the government and taxes withheld from their paychecks were the least likely to cheat. Mr. Everson acknowledged that the estimate is probably low ... The biggest single revenue loss came from proprietors of unincorporated businesses ... who shorted the government an estimated $68 billion in 2001.
Not only do they claim 30-40% cheat on taxes.....they also claim small businesses the worst. What does this say about giving them a larger tax breaks?
Posted by: bill r. | February 2, 2009 12:39 PM
This is an outrage!. The good old boy network will cover his ass and all will be well in the Senate. Its time that the people woke up and take a good look at what's going in America. We're going down the tubes and non one seems to care. Its really sad. I say
send the crooks packing.
Posted by: Paul | February 2, 2009 12:55 PM
But Obama and his left-wing media propagandists have no problems at all with tax cheats. If Geithner and Daschle were instead Republican appointees of a Republican president, though, you can bet that they would have been pilloried by the very same media, who would have given us 24/7 coverage of the issue and demanded that the nominations be withdrawn. Where's the outrage, lefties?
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | February 2, 2009 1:04 PM
It used to be that Sen. Daschle himself didn't take tax cheats lightly....
“Make no mistake, tax cheaters cheat us all, and the IRS should enforce our laws to the letter. ” Sen. Tom Daschle, Congressional Record, May 7, 1998, p. S4507.
Posted by: Taxpayer | February 2, 2009 2:07 PM
You have the Washington Post headline writer refer to Daschle's tax cheating as a "glitch." Let's guess what the headline would have been if it were a cabinet choice of Bush, shall we?
The Times of India has reported that in two weeks (less than) Obama has already broken his "no lobbyist" pledge 17 times. Seventeen! Have we had an US media point this out?
Both TG and Daschle should have been laughed out of the Senate room, instead of put in a position of authority.
Taxes -- they're only for the little people.
Posted by: Liz | February 2, 2009 2:08 PM
Socialiam may acept TAX CHEATS, but not Hard Working Honest Americans who have Loved America al of their life..
Posted by: Inky | February 2, 2009 2:43 PM
Socialiam may acept TAX CHEATS, but not Hard Working Honest Americans who have Loved America al of their life..
Posted by: Inky | February 2, 2009 2:43 PM
I know there are probably some tax cheats out there that would love to know exactly where "Socialiam" is located. I on the hand would like to know who is America al?
Posted by: bill r. | February 2, 2009 3:10 PM
But Inky, from reading (or trying to read) your posts over a period of time, you act like you hate America. Try supporting your President.
Posted by: Flo | February 2, 2009 3:34 PM
Ref-
But Inky, from reading (or trying to read) your posts over a period of time, you act like you hate America. Try supporting your President.
Posted by: Flo | February 2, 2009 3:34 PM
Flo
I have always loved America and payed my taxes, how about you?
Honest how can your support a President with Tax Cheats in his Cabinet, for starters?
Posted by: Inky | February 2, 2009 4:14 PM
Paleeze...I don't beieive for one second that 90% of Americans pay all taxes due. I don't think that the IRS does either or they wouldn't audit people. It may sound elitist to some but they more than likely don't use TurboTax on their home computers to figure out how much they owe. People like Daschle and Geithner have people do their taxes so I could understand they had no idea that the CPAs screwed up. I'm sure they payed their financial firms a nice penny for the screw up as well. I wouldn't be shocked if those firms are fired after this.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | February 2, 2009 5:37 PM
Mr. Inky, I consider a tax cheat someone who has intentionally paid less tax than he or she should; I really don't see evidence that they intentionally shorted their taxes, which would be pretty stupid for someone in public life. But I guess you are holier than thou Inky.
Posted by: Flo | February 2, 2009 5:50 PM
And you don't need to know where the bailout $ went!
- nader paul kucinich gravel
Posted by: how great the fall can be | February 3, 2009 2:42 PM