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Trump Picks Ex-Congressman with Controversial Tax Credit History to Lead IRS: What This Means for the Trump Transition

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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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 been plagued by fraud and has ended up costing the government more money than originally expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

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On Wednesday, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former Missouri congressman, to be in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision means that Trump plans to remove the current IRS leader, who was appointed by Biden.

After losing a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has been promoting a pandemic-era tax credit that has been filled with fraud and ended up costing the government billions more than anticipated. Legislators have attempted to end the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims in order to identify and eliminate fraudulent applications for the tax break.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he assists 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 to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown.

He emphasized that they do not allow anyone to cheat the system, and they ensure that individuals genuinely qualify for the refund from the IRS, including any accrued interest.

President Trump’s selection, which he revealed on his social media platform, will bring significant changes to the I.R.S. at a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested heavily in updating the agency and strengthening its efforts to collect taxes in order to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel, a former consultant and government employee with experience in both political parties, to head the redesign of the I.R.S in 2022. Werfel’s term was scheduled to continue until 2027.

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