July 22, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Francis X. De Luca (919) 834-2099 or Francis.DeLuca@nccivitas.org
RALEIGH – A new Civitas Flash Poll indicates overwhelming support for North Carolina’s new tax reforms. Thirty-two percent of the voters interviewed in this Interactive Voice Response Poll conducted by SurveyUSA were cellphone-only respondents. Asked about:
- A cut in the state personal income tax for all NC taxpayers to a flat 5.75 percent rate, 65 percent of North Carolina voters approved, 23 percent disapproved.
- Tax reform with overall state tax cuts totaling about $2 billion over the next five years, 57 percent of voters approved of the tax reductions; only 27 percent disapproved.
- Tax reform legislation increasing standard tax deductions, 64 percent approved, 20 percent disapproved.
- Tax reform leaving charitable contributions fully deductible and not taxing Social Security benefits, 84 percent of those polled approved of those measures; only 8 percent disapproved.
- Asked about the planned cut in corporate taxes from 6.9 percent to 5 percent in two years, and down to 3 percent in the next two years if certain fiscal benchmarks are reached, 52 percent approved while 33 percent disapproved.
“Where tax reform impacts individuals, the final version passed was very popular,” said Civitas President Francis X. De Luca. “And though liberals have tried to demonize cuts in corporate taxes, reductions in those rates won solid support. Presented with the actual plan, North Carolinians showed they understand that modernizing the code and cutting taxes will boost the state’s economy and help taxpayers.”
The Civitas Flash Poll of 603 registered North Carolina voters with a margin of error of plus-minus 4.1 percent was taken July 17-18.
Text of questions (Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100):
As part of a tax reform plan, the state legislature will reduce the state personal income tax rate to 5.75%, cutting income taxes for every tax payer in North Carolina. Do you approve or disapprove of this part of the plan?
65% Approve
23% Disapprove
12% Not Sure
Overall, tax cuts over the next five years will total over $2 billion. Do you approve or disapprove of this part of the plan?
57% Approve
27% Disapprove
16% Not Sure
The tax reform plan will increase the standard deduction for individuals from $3,000 to $7,500, and for married couples from $6,000 to $15,000. Head of Household filers will see the standard deduction increase from $6,000 to $12,000 Do you approve or disapprove of this part of the plan?
64% Approve
20% Disapprove
16% Not Sure
The tax reform plan will keep the deductibility of charitable contributions and not tax Social Security. Do you approve or disapprove of this part of the plan?
84% Approve
8% Disapprove
8% Not Sure
The legislature will also reduce the state corporate income tax rate from 6.9% to 5% in two years and then to 3% over the following two years if certain revenue targets are achieved. Do you approve or disapprove of this part of the plan?
52% Approve
33% Disapprove
15% Not Sure
Click here for crosstabs.
About the Poll:
SurveyUSA of Clifton, N.J., interviewed 603 registered North Carolina voters 07/17/13 through 07/18/13. Respondents reachable on a home telephone (68% of registered voters) were interviewed on their home telephone in the recorded voice of a professional announcer. Respondents not reachable on a home telephone (32% of registered voters) were shown a questionnaire on their smartphone, tablet or other electronic device.
Respondent households were selected at random, using Random Digit Dialed (RDD) sample provided by Survey Sampling, of Fairfield CT. Where necessary, respondents were weighted using the most recent US Census estimates for age, gender, ethnic origin and region, to align the sample to the population.
For more information on Civitas polling, see http://www.nccivitas.org/category/poll/.
More information on the Civitas Institute is available at www.nccivitas.org, or contact Jim Tynen at (919) 834-2099 or james.tynen@nccivitas.org.
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