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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 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 ended up costing the government billions more than expected.
Written by Andrew Duehren
Writing from the nation
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 indicates his plan to dismiss the current IRS 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 greatly affected by fraudulent activities, leading to a higher cost to the government than initially anticipated. In an effort to address this issue, lawmakers have made attempts to eliminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims to identify and reject false applications seeking the tax benefit.
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 neither he nor his colleagues had faced any rejections from the tax agency for claims. This credit was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020, as a part of a larger stimulus package aimed at encouraging businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic downturn.
"We don’t try to cheat the system," he explained. "We carefully ensure that individuals meet the requirements to receive a refund from the IRS, including any accrued interest."
President Trump’s decision, which he shared on his social media platform, will bring significant changes to the I.R.S. during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a large amount of money in updating the agency and strengthening its tax collection initiatives to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.
President Biden appointed Daniel Werfel in 2022 to head the transformation of the I.R.S. Werfel, with experience in management consulting and government service under both political parties, was chosen to lead the agency until 2027.
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