What do taxpayers think of tax credits?
According to BHI survey research, the idea of tax credits for charitable contributions draws support from every demographic category including ethnic background, political party affiliation, age, income, educational attainment and gender. See Appendix I. In the fall of 1997, BHI, with the cooperation of Commonwealth Consulting and Clark University, asked Massachusetts residents if they would favor or oppose a proposal that gives taxpayers the right to deduct $200 from their state taxes if they gave the same amount up to $200 to a private charity that helps the poor? A resounding 81% favored the idea while 14% opposed. Eighty percent (80%) of those with incomes under $30,000 supported the proposal; while 87% of those with incomes over $50,000 expressed support. See Question 1 in Appendix I. In January 1998, we asked two complementary questions. First we asked: Would you be more inclined to give to charities that help the poor if you got a more generous tax break for giving? Sixty-nine p
