Californians’ Views
The statewide Field Poll has been asking Californians how they feel about state and local taxes since 1977, before the Prop. 13 tax revolt. Throughout that period, most respondents have said taxes were too high. But there is no evidence that anti-tax feelings are on the rise.
On the whole, do you feel the level of state and local taxes the average citizen pays is much too high, somewhat high, or about right?
1977 1983 1991 1993 Much too high 39% 28% 33% 31% Somewhat high 31% 31% 26% 33% About right 27% 38% 39% 34% Don’t know 3% 3% 2% 2%
TAX FACTS
The majority of income taxes are paid by Californians with incomes over $100,000. In 1990, the top 1%--who earned more than $200,000--paid 39% of all personal income tax, up from 28% in 1970.
Approximately 12.9 million personal income tax returns were filed in the 1991 for the 1990 tax year. About 454,000 corporations filed tax returns for the 1991-92 year.
The personal income tax has eight tax rates ranging from 1% to 11%, indexed annually for inflation. Credits and itemized deductions are modeled on the federal tax system.
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