Most Americans say they pay more than their fair share in taxes, survey shows

A growing share of Americans believe they are overpaying in taxes, according to recent findings from the Pew Research Center.

By the numbers:

About 60% of U.S. adults now say the amount they pay in taxes is "more than their fair share" relative to the benefits they receive from the federal government. That marks an increase from 56% in 2023 and continues an upward trend from earlier years, when roughly half of Americans held that view in 2019 and 2021.

Meanwhile, about one-third of Americans—33%—say they pay about the right amount in taxes. Only a small minority, 5%, believe they pay less than their fair share.

The data highlights a shift in public sentiment, with more Americans expressing concern over their tax burden compared with recent years, according to Pew’s analysis.

The survey conducted Jan. 20–26 among 8,512 U.S. adults found that concerns about tax fairness remain widespread, particularly regarding wealthy individuals and corporations. 

Roughly six in ten Americans say it bothers them a lot that some wealthy people (61%) and corporations (60%) do not pay their fair share, levels that have remained largely stable in recent years. 

About half of Americans (51%) also say the complexity of the federal tax system is a major concern, consistent with past findings. 

'Meanwhile, 41% report being highly bothered by the amount they personally pay in taxes, a share that has steadily increased over time. In contrast, relatively few—just 12%—say they are greatly troubled by the perception that lower-income people do not pay their fair share.

Tax Day is this week, falling on Wednesday, April 15. 

If you still need to file by then, don't panic. You can request an extension, granting you additional time to submit your information.

Can taxes be filed on April 15? 

Big picture view:

Yes, you can file your taxes on April 15th, as long as it is completed and taken to the post office in enough time to have an April 15, 2026, postmark, or submitted online before midnight in your time zone, according to the IRS. 

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What time are taxes due on April 15? 

Big picture view:

If you’re filing online, taxes must be submitted electronically before midnight in your time zone. 

If filing via paper, your taxes will need to be taken to the post office on Wednesday in enough time to have an April 15, 2026, postmark. 

Dig deeper:

If you need to ensure your taxes receive the correct postmark, you can take your mail to a USPS retail location and request a local postmark when handing over your mail, according to the USPS. They’ll add the postmark manually for free. 

Check the location specific to you, but most USPS locations close between 5-6 p.m. local time on weekdays. 

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What is the penalty for filing taxes late? 

Big picture view:

The failure to file penalty applies if you don't file your tax return by the due date (including extensions). 

By the numbers:

The penalty is 5% of your unpaid taxes for each month that a return is late, up to 25% of the total unpaid, for individuals and most business tax returns, according to the IRS.

Dig deeper:

You’ll know if you owe a penalty because you’ll receive a notice letter from the IRS. 

How to file an extension for 2025 taxes

Big picture view:

Taxpayers who cannot file their return by April 15 should request an extension by that date to avoid a failure to file penalty.

Timeline:

The extension must be requested by the tax deadline on April 15, and extensions give taxpayers until Oct. 15 to submit their return. 

Of note:

However, any tax owed is still due by April 15. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. 

If you owe taxes and don’t pay by April 15, you’ll owe interest and could also be charged late penalties.

What you can do:

There are three ways you can request an automatic extension to file your taxes: 

1. File Form 4868 electronically with an IRS e-filing partner
2. File Form 4868 in paper form and enclose payment of your estimate of tax due (optional)
3. Go to the IRS website to pay all or part of taxes owed using an online option and click on "extension" as the reason for the payment. That will give a confirmation number associated with the extension that can be kept for their records, with no need to file additional forms.

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