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Trump Transition: Ex-Congressman with Controversial Tax Credit History Nominated to Lead I.R.S.

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long has been selected by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service. Long has previously worked with businesses to claim a tax credit during the pandemic, which has resulted in widespread fraud and higher costs for the government than originally expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the nation

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, as the new head of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision implies that Trump plans to remove the current leader, who was appointed by President Biden.

Following his loss in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long promoted a tax credit introduced during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent claims, resulting in the government incurring billions more in costs than anticipated. Lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, with the IRS halting the processing of claims temporarily to identify and reject false applications.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he assists businesses in accessing the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that so far, the tax agency has not rejected any claims made by him and his team. The 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 sneak anyone through and they ensure that the individuals qualify for the refund from the IRS with interest on their own money.

President Trump’s selection, revealed on his social media platform, will bring significant changes to the I.R.S. during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a substantial amount of money in updating the agency and strengthening its tax collection activities to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden appointed Daniel Werfel, a former management consultant and civil servant with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to head the restructuring of the I.R.S in 2022. Werfel’s term was scheduled to continue until 2027.

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