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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Long, who served six terms in Congress, has been assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this tax credit has been plagued with fraud and has ended up costing the government much more than expected.
Written by Andrew Duehren
Writing from the capital
On Wednesday, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to be in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision signals Trump’s plan 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 introduced during the pandemic that has been heavily abused and ended up costing the government billions more than anticipated. In response, lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has halted the processing of claims temporarily in order to identify and reject fraudulent applications for the tax benefit.
During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about his efforts in assisting businesses to apply for the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that neither him nor his colleagues had faced any rejections from the tax agency for their claims. The program, established by Congress and Mr. Trump in 2020, aimed to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees amid the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
He emphasized that they do not sneak anyone through, but instead ensure that they qualify for the refund from the IRS with interest, as it is their own money.
President Trump has made a decision that will significantly impact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a substantial amount 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 in 2022 to head the restructuring of the I.R.S. Werfel, a former management consultant and civil servant with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, was chosen to lead the organization until 2027.
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