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Trump’s Controversial Pick for IRS Leader Raises Questions About Tax Credit Fraud and Government Oversight

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. Long, who held office for six terms, has been assisting businesses in taking advantage of a tax credit during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this tax credit has been plagued with fraud and has ended up costing the government significantly more money than originally expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

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President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, as the head of the Internal Revenue Service. This move implies that he plans to replace the current leader, who was appointed by Biden.

Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has promoted a tax credit designed for the pandemic period. Unfortunately, this tax credit has faced significant issues with fraud, resulting in the government losing billions more than anticipated. Lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, with the IRS even pausing the processing of claims to identify and stop false applications.

During a podcast in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he assists businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that neither he nor his team have faced any rejections from the tax agency for these claims. This tax credit program was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020 to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic downturn.

"We don’t allow anyone to cheat the system," he stated. "We ensure that they meet the requirements for receiving a refund from the IRS, along with any interest owed to them."

President Trump made a significant decision by announcing his pick for a key position within the I.R.S. This comes at a crucial time as the Biden administration has invested heavily in updating the agency and increasing its tax enforcement measures to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel, a person with experience in management consulting and government service in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to head the reform of the I.R.S in 2022. Werfel’s term was expected to continue until 2027.

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