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Trump’s Controversial Pick for I.R.S. Leadership Raises Questions About Tax Credit Program

In Citizen
January 17, 2025

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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the I.R.S. Long, who served six terms in Congress, has been involved in assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic that has seen widespread fraud and has ended up costing the government billions more than expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

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Donald J. Trump, who has been elected as the President, announced on Wednesday that he plans to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to be in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. This move implies that he intends to remove the current leader of the IRS, who was appointed by Biden.

Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has promoted a tax credit introduced during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraud and ended up costing the government billions more than originally anticipated. Lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has halted the processing of claims temporarily to identify and reject fraudulent applications for the tax benefit.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about his efforts to assist businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that so far, he and his team have not had any of their claims denied by the tax agency. This program, established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020, is a part of a larger stimulus package aimed at encouraging businesses to continue paying their employees during times of economic hardship.

He mentioned that they don’t allow anyone to cheat the system, ensuring that individuals truly qualify for the IRS refund with interest.

Donald Trump’s recent appointment, revealed on his social media platform, will bring significant changes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during a crucial period. The Biden administration has invested substantial amounts of money into updating the agency and strengthening its tax collection initiatives to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel, a previous management consultant and government official with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to head the reformation of the I.R.S in 2022. Werfel was expected to serve in this role until 2027.

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