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So don't pay your carbon tax into the general fund. Pay the revenue out as a dividend, equal amount per capita. If you emit less CO2 than average you come out ahead.

Poor people tend to emit quite a bit less than rich people; they buy less, ride the bus more, live in apartments or smaller houses, etc.

If you want to go down this road you should be looking at % of income spent on carbon taxes.

Maybe some “carbon allowance” would then be afforded so the lower income people that qualify could claim a deduction on their personal income tax return.

Lower income people would already be turning a profit. Anyone with lower-than-average emissions would get more in their monthly dividend check than they pay in total carbon fees.

Carbon taxes should start out very small, and phase in gradually over the equipment replacement period (at least 20-30 years?)

Carbon taxes need to drive a shift in planning - on the planning time horizon - for everything that emits carbon

Carbon taxes do not have to equal consumption taxes.