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Trump Transition: Ex-Congressman Who Hawked Tax Credits Nominated to Lead I.R.S.

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 involved in assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic that has seen widespread fraud and ended up costing the government much more than expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the capital

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Wednesday that he plans to appoint Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to head the Internal Revenue Service. This would mean removing the current leader, who was appointed by Biden, from their position.

Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long promoted a tax credit created during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent claims, resulting in the government spending billions more than anticipated. In an effort to combat this fraud, lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims to identify and reject fake applications.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he assists businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that so far, the tax agency has not rejected any of the claims made by him and his colleagues. This program, established by Congress and Mr. Trump in 2020, was included in a large stimulus package to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic downturn.

"We do not help anyone cheat the system," he stated. "We always ensure that they meet the requirements for receiving a refund from the IRS, along with any accrued interest."

Donald Trump made a new selection for a key position at the IRS, which was revealed on his social media platform. This decision could have a significant impact on the agency at a crucial time. The current administration, led by Joe Biden, has invested large sums of money in updating the IRS and enhancing its ability to collect taxes. This investment is aimed at enhancing customer service and increasing efforts to combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel in 2022 to be in charge of revamping the I.R.S. Werfel, who had experience working in various administrations from both political parties, was a former management consultant and civil servant. His term as head of the I.R.S was expected to continue until 2027.

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