As the clock ticks down on President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, set to expire by year’s end, a fresh poll reveals a resounding call from American voters to keep them in place. The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and shared exclusively with the New York Post, shows a striking 84% of likely US voters support maintaining the current tax rates, with only 16% favoring a hike. This sentiment surges as Congress races to craft a “big, beautiful” bill to lock in these tax provisions for good.
The poll, which captured the views of 1,000 likely voters from April 10 to 14, paints a clear picture across party lines. An overwhelming 95% of Republicans, 81% of independents, and 74% of Democrats say they’d vote to preserve the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act if they were in Congress. Key groups like seniors, moderates, and suburban voters—pivotal for the 2026 midterms—back the extension by margins exceeding 60%, signaling a unified front for tax relief.
Voters are also growing more wary of tax increases. A full 80% now say it’s a bad time to raise taxes, a four-point jump from September, while just 3% see it as a good moment for hikes. Another 17% remain neutral. Meanwhile, 68% of respondents feel the federal government is taking too big a bite out of their paychecks, compared to 32% who think tax levels are fair. Three-quarters of those surveyed warn that letting the tax cuts lapse would hit middle-class families, small businesses, and consumers hardest.
When it comes to tackling the $2 trillion federal budget deficit, voters lean heavily toward restraint over revenue. Half (51%) want federal spending slashed, 44% favor boosting economic growth to increase revenue, and a mere 5% support raising taxes.
“Voters overwhelmingly support extending the 2017 tax cuts, and they want Congress to act as soon as possible to make the extension of these cuts a reality,” wrote Jim Hobart, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies, in the polling memo. “Letting these tax cuts expire is seen as hurting small businesses, middle-class families, American consumers, and the economy as a whole.”
Political Momentum and Congressional Action
The political stakes are high, with Hobart noting that preserving the tax cuts is a “clear political winner” not just for Republicans but also for swing voters who will shape the 2026 elections. In Congress, Republicans are pushing to secure up to $1.5 trillion in spending cuts through a budget reconciliation bill that would maintain current tax rates while eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security.
“President Trump’s tax cuts were critical to delivering relief to the middle class, and our Republican majority is ready to vote to make them permanent, while Democrats are fighting tooth-and-nail to force a $4 billion tax increase on hardworking Americans,” Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said to the New York Post.
He also dismissed claims from Democrats, stating, “Despite lies from Democrats and their media allies, President Trump has been absolutely clear that cuts to Social Security and Medicaid are absolutely off the table.”
Race Against Time
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the urgency of the tax package, calling it one of three pillars of Trump’s economic vision alongside trade and deregulation. “We’ve got three legs to the president’s economic agenda—trade, tax, and deregulation—and we hope that we can have this tax portion done by Fourth of July,” Bessent said after meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is aiming to push the tax provisions through his chamber by Memorial Day this year.
Democrats have criticized the bill as a boon for the wealthy, but Republicans may bypass opposition by passing it with a simple majority through budget reconciliation. The poll, commissioned by Americans for Prosperity as part of a $20 million campaign to renew the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, carries a credibility interval of +3.53% in 95 out of 100 cases, highlighting its reliability.
With voter support spanning party lines and demographics, the push to extend Trump’s tax cuts is gaining momentum, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in Washington.
The Fairview Gazette will keep you up to date with any developments regarding the Trump tax cuts.
