Joint Center Releases Tax Code Survey Results Across Race for Congressional Priorities 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 30, 2023
Contact: Chandra Hayslett, chandra@jointcenter.org

WASHINGTON — The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies today released its last in a series of survey results — “Building a More Inclusive Agenda: A Survey of Congressional Priorities Across Race — Priorities for Tax Policy” — that tracks what Americans say Congress should prioritize.

As part of its Data for Black America Project, the Joint Center partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to survey more than 1,200 Americans across race and ethnicity to understand their perspectives on the importance of priorities for members of Congress. Americans were surveyed on policies related to racial equity, jobs and skills training, tax policy, and technology policy.

The Joint Center and NORC at the University of Chicago survey asked respondents about several tax policy related priorities including passing legislation that helps to decrease income equality, bringing back the expanded Child Tax Credit that provided monthly payments to most families with children, and providing more tax benefits to workers by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and passing legislation to take away funding from the IRS.

“Congress should understand the tax policy priorities of Americans because the tax code affects all people across race, age, gender, income, education level, and geography. The types and amounts of revenues collected through the U.S. tax system directly affect household economic security, economic and racial inequality, and the ability of the government to provide the programs and services we all rely on,” said Jessica Fulton, interim president and VP, Policy at the Joint Center. “A well-crafted tax system can contribute to the overall well-being of the nation and its citizens, so Congress should listen to and learn from American people when making decisions about the tax code.”

Of all of the tax policy priorities polled, Black respondents were most likely to rank passing legislation that helps decrease income inequality (47 percent) as a top priority. This priority was closely followed by reducing the federal deficit and providing more tax benefits to workers by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, with 46 percent of Black respondents ranking each a top priority. Across issues, both white (51 percent) and Hispanic (37 percent) and Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, and other non-Hispanic (45 percent) respondents were most likely to rank reducing the federal deficit a top priority for Congress. Passing legislation to take away funding from the IRS was least likely to be ranked as a top priority for Congress across every race and ethnicity.

Over half of all respondents say that bringing back the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), that provided monthly payments to most families with children, should be an important or top priority for Congress. And over 60 percent of all respondents say that providing more tax benefits to workers by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) should be an important or top priority for Congress.

“In the coming months and years, policymakers can decrease income inequality and support American households by bringing back the expanded Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Fulton, whose research sits at the intersection of race and economic policy. “The EITC is considered one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty in the United States because it helps lift millions of people, including children, out of poverty. The financial assistance provided through the temporarily expanded Child Tax Credit can be especially valuable for families with limited resources.”

Respondents evaluated several issue areas of tax code in terms of their level of importance, categorizing them as a top priority, an important but lower priority, not too important a priority, or something that should not be done. Topline results include:

• Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of respondents believe that reducing the federal deficit should be an important or top priority for Congress.
  • The biggest differences were among age. Respondents 60 years old and older (86 percent) were significantly more likely than younger respondents aged 18 to 29 (56 percent) and aged 30 to 44 (60 percent) to believe that reducing the federal deficit should be an important or top priority for Congress.
• Over half of all respondents say that bringing back the expanded CTC, that provided monthly payments to most families with children, should be an important or top priority for Congress.
  • Black respondents (67 percent) are significantly more likely than Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic (56 percent), Hispanic (51 percent), and white respondents (48 percent) to believe that bringing back the expanded CTC should be an important or top priority for Congress.
• Over 60 percent of all respondents say that providing more tax benefits to workers by expanding the EITC should be an important or top priority for Congress.
  • Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic (76 percent) and Black (72 percent) respondents are significantly more likely than Hispanic (61 percent) and white respondents (60 percent) to believe that providing more tax benefits to workers by expanding the EITC should be an important or top priority for Congress.
• A little over one-third (34 percent) of all respondents say that passing legislation to take away funding from the IRS should be an important or top priority for Congress, while 46 percent believe it is not too important a priority or should not be done.
  • Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic (44 percent) and Black (40 percent) respondents are more likely than white (35 percent) and Hispanic respondents (27 percent) to believe that passing legislation to take away funding from the IRS should be an important or top priority for Congress.
• Almost 60 percent of all respondents say that passing legislation that helps to decrease income inequality should be an important or top priority for Congress.
  • Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic (75 percent) and Black (70 percent) respondents are significantly more likely than white (58 percent) and Hispanic respondents (50 percent) to believe that passing legislation that helps to decrease income inequality should be an important or top priority for Congress.

Data from more than 1,200 Americans was collected online between Jan. 26-30, 2023 using NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak panel. The Data for Black America Project aims to inform decision-makers about the challenges Black Americans face and provide scholars with valuable data to use in the future. This initiative will periodically field surveys and conduct focus groups on various economic and political issues of particular relevance to Black communities.

Click here to see the full survey analysis.

To read the introductory congressional priorities blog post, click here.

To read “Building a More Inclusive Agenda: A Survey of Congressional Priorities Across Race — Racial Equity Priorities,” click here.

To read “Building a More Inclusive Agenda: A Survey of Congressional Priorities Across Race — Priorities for Workers and Learners,” click here.

To read “ “Building a More Inclusive Agenda: A Survey of Congressional Priorities Across Race — Priorities for Technology Policy,” click here.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, provides compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradicate persistent and evolving barriers to the full freedom of Black people in America. We are the trusted forum for leading experts and scholars to participate in major public policy debates and promote ideas that advance Black communities. We use evidence-based research, analysis, convenings, and strategic communications to support Black communities and a network of allies.