High Point, NC - A new High Point University Poll finds nearly half (45%) of North Carolina residents expect to pay more in income taxes this year than they did last year. Only 10% said that they will pay less and one in five (20%) told us that they will pay the same in taxes as last year.

A majority (52%) of poll respondents said they consider the amount of federal income tax they have to pay as too high. About one-quarter (27%) said the amount they pay is about right and 4% said it's too low. About 17% did not offer an opinion either way.

The poll also asked North Carolinians about several priorities that they would be willing to pay more in taxes for if that meant the government could spend more money on it. Majorities said they would pay more in taxes if the government would spend more money on reducing violent crime (59%), education (58%), health care in general (58%), and national security (53%). Fewer than half would be willing to spend more money in taxes if the government spent it on interstate roads (46%), slowing down climate change (39%), COVID-19 (31%), and foreign aid to developing countries (23%).

“The COVID-19 tax relief legislation was extended to March 2021 so those filing their taxes would have seen an increase in their tax liability,” said Brandon M. Dragone, visiting instructor of economics. “How this will impact consumer purchases in the near future is yet to be seen but could have an adverse effect on the economy.”

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