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Trump Transition: Ex-Congressman Who Hawked Tax Credits Nominated to Lead I.R.S.

In Citizen
January 17, 2025

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Former congressman Billy Long from Missouri has been chosen by Trump to lead the IRS. Long has previously assisted businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic, which has unfortunately been plagued by fraud and has ended up costing the government much more than originally expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the capital

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to be the new head of the Internal Revenue Service. This move also implies that Trump plans to remove the current IRS leader, who was appointed by Biden.

After losing a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long promoted a pandemic-era tax credit that has been plagued by fraud and ended up costing the government billions more than anticipated. Lawmakers have attempted to end the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted processing claims in order to identify and reject fraudulent applications for the tax break.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about his experience assisting businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that he and his team have not had any claims denied by the tax agency. This credit was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020 as a way to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown.

"We do not allow anyone to cheat their way through the process. We ensure that they meet all the necessary requirements to receive a refund of their own money from the I.R.S. with interest."

President Trump announced his selection through his social media platform, which would bring significant changes to the I.R.S. during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a large amount of money into updating the agency and strengthening its efforts to collect taxes, aiming to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel in 2022 to head the reformation of the I.R.S. Werfel, a former management consultant and civil servant with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, was chosen to lead the agency until 2027.

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