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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the IRS. Long, who served six terms in Congress, has been assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic that has faced issues with fraud and has ended up costing the government more money than expected.
Written by Andrew Duehren
Writing from the nation
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to appoint Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, as the new head of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision indicates that Trump plans to dismiss 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 introduced during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent claims, resulting in billions of dollars in unexpected costs for the government. In an effort to address the issue, lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims to identify and reject false applications.
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 he and his team have not had any of their claims 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 downturn caused by the pandemic.
"We do not try to deceive anyone by helping them qualify for a refund from the IRS. We carefully ensure that they meet the requirements to receive their own money back, along with any interest owed to them."
President Trump made a surprising announcement on his social media platform regarding his selection for a key position in the I.R.S. This decision comes at a crucial time, as the Biden administration has recently invested a significant amount of funds into updating the agency and enhancing its tax collection activities. The goal of these efforts is to enhance customer service quality and combat tax evasion more effectively.
President Biden appointed Daniel Werfel, a former management consultant and civil servant with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to lead the restructuring of the I.R.S in 2022. Werfel’s term was expected to continue until 2027.
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