Transition of power from
Transition of power
Transition of power
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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the IRS. During his time in Congress, Long served six terms. After leaving office, he assisted businesses in claiming a tax credit meant to help during the pandemic. However, this tax credit has been plagued with fraud and has ended up costing the government billions more than expected.
Written by Andrew Duehren
Writing from the city
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to appoint 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 of the IRS, who was appointed by President Biden.
Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has promoted a pandemic-related tax credit that has been plagued by fraudulent activity, resulting in the government spending billions more than anticipated. Efforts have been made by lawmakers to eliminate the tax credit and the IRS has temporarily halted the processing of claims to identify and prevent fake applications for the tax break.
During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long mentioned that he and his team have not had any of their claims denied by the tax agency when helping businesses claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit. This credit was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020 to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown.
"We do not allow anyone to cheat the system," he stated. "We ensure that they meet the necessary requirements to receive a refund from the IRS, along with any interest owed to them."
President Trump has made a new selection for a key position in the IRS, which was shared on his social media platform. This decision will have a significant impact on the IRS at 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 transformation of the I.R.S. Werfel was expected to serve in this role until 2027.
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