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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service. Long, who has served six terms in Congress, has been assisting businesses in obtaining a tax credit during the pandemic. However, this tax credit has been associated with fraud and has ended up costing the government more money than originally estimated.
Authored 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 new head of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision would involve removing the current IRS leader, who was appointed by President 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 fraudulent activity, resulting in the government losing billions more than anticipated. In response, lawmakers have attempted to end the tax credit program, and the IRS has temporarily halted the processing of claims 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 so far, he and his team have not had any of their claims denied by the tax agency. The credit was established in 2020 by Congress and former President Trump as a way to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown.
He explained that they don’t try to deceive anyone, but instead ensure that individuals truly meet the qualifications for receiving a refund from the IRS along with any accrued interest.
President Trump announced his selection for a key position in the IRS through his social media platform, which would have a significant impact at a crucial time for the agency. The Biden administration has invested substantial funds in updating the agency and increasing its efforts to collect taxes, aiming to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.
President Biden appointed Daniel Werfel in 2022 to spearhead the restructuring of the I.R.S. Werfel, a former management consultant and government employee with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, was chosen to lead this effort. He was expected to serve in this role until 2027.
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