WASHINGTON (AFP) — An overwhelming number of Americans are outraged by tax cheats, according to an Internal Revenue Service poll released after two top US administration nominees withdrew over tax scandals.
The 89 percent of Americans who find it "not at all acceptable" to cheat the agency was the highest recorded since the survey of taxpayer attitudes began in 2002, the IRS said.
The poll was released after President Barack Obama's candidate to become Health Secretary, Tom Daschle, abruptly withdrew Tuesday after it was revealed he had paid more than 120,000 dollars in back taxes.
Before Daschle, Nancy Killefer had to withdraw as head of the US government budget watchdog and Obama's Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, endured sharp questioning over his tax affairs before being confirmed.
The US media has also questioned the tax affairs of the husband of Hilda Solis, Obama's pick for labor secretary.
Americans are traditionally very obedient taxpayers, with the average rate for paying correct taxes hovering around 85 percent for decades, according to IRS Oversight Board spokeswoman Joelle Jordan.
More than eight out of ten Americans said their personal integrity has a "great deal of influence" over whether they report and pay taxes honestly. This figure has steadily risen since the first survey in 2002, when 74 percent said the same.
According to the poll of 1,000 people carried out in late August, 31 percent of Americans strongly believe it is "everyone's personal responsibility to report anyone who cheats on their taxes," compared to only 21 percent in 2002.
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