Bernie Sanders faces criticism over airline tax claims

Senator Bernie Sanders has drawn scrutiny for claims that major airlines, including United, Southwest, and American Airlines, pay less in federal income taxes than individual citizens.

Analysis of financial records indicates discrepancies in these claims. For instance, United Airlines reported $33 million in federal tax payments for 2025, though its financial statements listed $4 million in federal income tax due to the distinction between accrual and cash reporting.

While airlines benefit from deductions related to aircraft purchases, they are also subject to a 7.5% excise tax and segment taxes on domestic tickets, which generated approximately $15.915 billion last year. Additionally, some carriers, such as American Airlines, have reported very slim profit margins, which impacts their total tax liability.