Excise taxes on gasoline and state sales taxes are often criticized for being regressive, even though everyone pays the same tax rate regardless of income. Why could this be the case?

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Business

Bria

27 July, 00:48

Excise taxes on gasoline and state sales taxes are often criticized for being regressive, even though everyone pays the same tax rate regardless of income. Why could this be the case?

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Zachariah Macdonald · Answer 1

Yes because a person with a lower income may tend to spend a greater share of his income on gasoline

Explanation:

For example, if a low income individual earning $1000 and a high-income person who earns $2000 each purchase 12 gallons of gasoline, the taxes on this purchase will consume a larger portion of the low-income person's earnings than that of the high-income person. Assuming a tax rate of 5% of earnings multiplied by 12 Gallons.

Low income individual earnings after tax deductions = $400

High income individual earnings after tax deductions = $800