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Trump Transition: Former Congressman Billy Long Nominated to Lead IRS Amid Controversy Over Tax Credit Fraud

In Citizen
January 17, 2025

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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Long, who served six terms as a congressman, has been involved in assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic. This tax credit has faced issues with fraud and has ended up costing the government more money than originally expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the capital

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to appoint Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, as the head of the Internal Revenue Service. This move indicates his plan to remove the current IRS leader, who was appointed by President Biden.

Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long promoted a tax credit that was intended to help during the pandemic but instead became a target for fraudulent activity, resulting in the government losing billions more than anticipated. Lawmakers have made efforts to stop the misuse of the tax credit, including temporarily halting the processing of claims by the I.R.S. in order to identify and eliminate false applications.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about his efforts in assisting businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that not a single claim filed by him and his team had been denied by the tax agency so far. 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 caused by the pandemic.

He stated that they do not sneak anyone through the process and ensure that they qualify for the IRS refund with interest.

President Trump made a new selection for a key position in the IRS, which was announced on his social media platform. This decision could have a significant impact on the IRS during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a substantial amount of money into modernizing the agency and strengthening its tax collection initiatives to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel in 2022 to head the I.R.S. overhaul. Werfel, who has experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations as a management consultant and civil servant, was appointed to lead the agency until 2027.

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