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Trump’s Choice for IRS Leader Raises Concerns Over Tax Credit Fraud and Government Costs

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Former Congressman Billy Long, who represented Missouri for six terms, has been chosen by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Long has been assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic, which has seen a significant amount of fraud and has ended up costing the government more than expected.

Authored by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the nation

Donald J. Trump, who has been elected as President, 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 indicates that he intends to remove the current head of the IRS, who was appointed by President Biden.

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

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about his efforts in assisting businesses to access the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that he and his team have not encountered any rejections from the tax agency for claims made so far. This credit program was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020 as a way to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees amid the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

"We don’t try to cheat the system," he stated. "We carefully verify that they are eligible for this refund of their own money from the IRS, along with interest."

President Trump made a new selection for a key position at the IRS through his social media platform. This decision will have a significant impact on the agency during a critical time. The Biden administration has invested a substantial amount of money in updating the IRS and strengthening its ability to collect taxes. This investment aims to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel in 2022 to spearhead the reform of the I.R.S. Werfel, a former consultant and government employee with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, was appointed to lead the agency until 2027.

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