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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been selected by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service. Long, who served six terms in Congress, has been assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic that has experienced widespread fraud and resulted in billions of dollars more in costs than originally expected.
Authored by Andrew Duehren
Reporting from the nation
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Wednesday that he plans to appoint Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to be in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision indicates his intention to remove the current leader, who was appointed by President Biden.
Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has been promoting a tax credit introduced during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent activities, resulting in the government facing billions of dollars in unexpected costs. In response, lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims to identify and eliminate false applications for the tax break.
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 faced any denials from 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 shutdown.
"We don’t sneak anyone in to qualify for this refund from the I.R.S.," he explained. "We ensure that they meet all the necessary requirements to receive their own money back, with interest included."
President Trump’s selection, revealed on his social media platform, will bring significant changes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a substantial amount of money in 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, who has experience in management consulting and government service under both Democratic and Republican administrations, was appointed to serve until 2027.
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