IRS survey: Most taxpayers are honest

Fear of an audit is only one factor behind most people's belief that they should pay their fair share of taxes, according to a survey by the IRS Oversight Board.

Ninety-five percent of those polled last August either completely or mostly agreed that it is every American's civic duty to pay their fair share of taxes. That figure was up one percentage point from a similar survey taken last year.

The board, comprised of private sector advisers to the Internal Revenue Service, also found that 84 percent said that it was not at all acceptable to cheat on your income taxes, down slightly from 86 percent in 2006.

Eight percent said it was permissible to cheat "a little here and there" and five percent backed cheating "as much as possible."

The survey, the result of more than 1,000 interviews, also showed that 89 percent completely or mostly agreed that those who cheat on their taxes should be held accountable. Sixty percent said it was everyone's personal responsibility to report anyone who cheats on his or her taxes.

Asked about factors that influence honesty in taxpaying, 54 percent said fear of an audit was a major factor or somewhat of a factor. That was down from 61 percent in 2006. Overall, the IRS audits about 1 percent of individual returns.

Another 61 percent said third-party reporting of their income influenced their decision to be honest, while 87 percent listed personal integrity as having a great deal or some influence.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.