Don Beyer: Trump’s nominee to head up IRS would be ‘a gift to tax cheats’

Billy Long, a former Missouri Republican congressman who wants to abolish the IRS, is Donald Trump’s pick to, get this, head up the IRS.

Outside of his disdain for the IRS, Long’s other main qualification for the job, in Trump’s eyes, would be his frequent appearances on Fox News, because of course that is what is going on here.

Otherwise, Long is a guy with a high school degree, former auctioneer and self-styled tax adviser, his work in that area concentrated on helping businesses use the Employee Retention Tax Credit, which the IRS has cited for its high rate of fraud.

Perfect.

Long would replace Danny Werfel, who was tapped by President Biden to head up the IRS in 2022.

“The change Trump proposes in IRS leadership would be a gift to tax cheats and a blow to anyone who believes it is important to rein in deficits,” said Virginia Democrat Don Beyer, who serves on the House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee.

“Replacing Commissioner Werfel with over three years remaining in his term is a terrible mistake,” Beyer said. “He has done an excellent job rebuilding the IRS, boosting customer service and enhancing enforcement aimed at wealthy tax evaders. Removing him will clearly signal Trump’s intention to make the agency less responsive to the American people, while giving a green light to wealthy tax cheats to evade their fair share of the tax burden.”