MSNBC - Rachel Maddow on Billy Long: Five things to know about Trump's pick for IRS commissioner
The video raises concerns about Donald Trump's nominee for IRS Commissioner, Billy Long, who lacks traditional qualifications for the role. Long, a former auctioneer and congressman, has no background in accounting, finance, or tax law. His credentials include a dubious certification from a small firm, which tax experts do not recognize. Long has promoted a controversial tax credit program, which the IRS warns is prone to fraud. Additionally, Long has a history of proposing to abolish the IRS and replace income tax with a high sales tax, an idea linked to the Church of Scientology. The video argues that the IRS Commissioner role should be independent and free from political influence, noting that the current commissioner is in the middle of a five-year term, making a new appointment unnecessary.
Key Points:
- Billy Long lacks qualifications for IRS Commissioner, having no background in accounting or tax law.
- Long promotes a controversial tax credit program, which the IRS warns is prone to fraud.
- He has proposed abolishing the IRS and replacing income tax with a 30% sales tax.
- The IRS Commissioner role is meant to be independent, with a five-year term to avoid political influence.
- The current IRS Commissioner is in the middle of their term, making a new appointment unnecessary.
Details:
1. 🔍 Trump's IRS Nominee Under Scrutiny
- The nominee for IRS Commissioner is under scrutiny due to a lack of traditional vetting and background checks, raising concerns about the potential for misuse of the IRS for political purposes.
- Historically, the IRS has been accused of being used against perceived enemies during Trump's presidency, underscoring the importance of appointing a commissioner who can resist presidential pressure.
- There is a significant need for a commissioner with real expertise and the gravitas to withstand political pressure, given past accusations of Trump demanding IRS action against his opponents.
- The role of IRS Commissioner is crucial in preventing abuse, highlighting the necessity for a candidate with integrity to ensure impartial administration of tax audits.
- The nominee's qualifications and readiness to handle such pressure are in question, emphasizing the need for a thorough vetting process.
2. 📜 Questionable Qualifications of Billy Long
2.1. Lack of Qualifications for IRS Commissioner Role
2.2. Professional Background of Billy Long
3. 🐶 Controversial Actions in Congress
- The appointed IRS commissioner lacks traditional qualifications common among predecessors, notably having no history on tax-writing committees, which raises concerns about their ability to manage complex tax issues.
- The commissioner received a 'Tax Fighter Award' from the National Tax Limitation Committee, an organization now linked to a gambling website, casting doubt on the award's credibility and the commissioner's stance on tax policy.
- Congressman Billy Long has proposed abolishing the IRS and income tax in favor of a 30% sales tax. This idea, which some Republicans support, was originally proposed by the Church of Scientology in the 1990s, highlighting its controversial and unconventional nature.
- The proposed 30% sales tax could significantly impact consumer spending and economic behavior, as it fundamentally shifts the taxation method from income-based to consumption-based.
4. 📇 Dubious Tax Credentials
- Billy Long, during his tenure in Congress, attempted to influence tax-related matters without holding substantial credentials in the field. He demanded an IRS investigation into the Humane Society, which was unsuccessful, for supporting a ballot measure to improve conditions for dogs and puppies in Missouri. This action raised questions about his understanding and interpretation of tax laws.
- Long's credentials are misleading; he includes 'ctba' in his Twitter bio. This acronym resembles CPA (Certified Public Accountant), a recognized accounting certification, but 'ctba' is not an official or recognized accounting credential, which could mislead the public regarding his expertise in tax matters.
5. 💰 Tax Program Promotions and Scams
- The 'Certified Tax and Business Advisor (CTBA)' credential promoted by Trump's IRS nominee, Billy Long, lacks recognition from tax experts and is offered by Excel Empire, a firm requiring only a three-day seminar for certification.
- Excel Empire's chief tax planner, involved in selling the CTBA, is not a licensed attorney or investment advisor as his law license lapsed 19 years ago, casting doubt on the credential's legitimacy.
- The CTBA credential is sold for $3,000 to $4,997, with Excel Empire also offering another unrecognized title, 'Tax Master,' further highlighting concerns about fabricated qualifications in the tax industry.
- Billy Long's Twitter bio continues to promote a 40% tax savings offer even after his nomination as IRS commissioner, raising ethical questions about such promotional tactics.
- The lack of recognition for the CTBA credential and its promotion by a high-profile nominee underscores broader issues of misleading qualifications and marketing strategies in the tax sector.
6. 🧢 Gimmicks and Public Image
- The IRS commissioner is urging Congress to terminate a specific tax program due to rampant fraudulent claims, describing it as a 'Gold Rush of bogus tax claims.'
- A company linked to Billy Long is promoting this controversial tax program, even though its leaders were previously banned from working as securities brokers due to past misconduct.
- This company is aggressively marketing the program, encouraging clients to claim eligibility despite CPA advice to the contrary.
- The IRS has issued warnings to taxpayers about scams associated with this tax program, highlighting it as one of the 'worst of the worst' tax scams.
- This tax scam is featured in the IRS's annual 'Dirty Dozen' list, alerting the public to be wary of fraudulent eligibility claims and related tax frauds.
7. 🚫 Concerns Over IRS Independence
- The IRS has identified a significant fraud issue involving aggressive promoters misleading taxpayers into making questionable employee retention tax credit claims, resulting in multi-billion dollar fraud.
- In response, the IRS has taken unprecedented steps to allow misled taxpayers to retract their filings without penalty and has requested Congress to shut down the program to prevent further fraud.
- Employers are warned against widespread advertisements encouraging unwarranted tax credit claims, prevalent across media platforms, which could lead to non-qualifying claims.
- The political aspect comes into play with Billy Long, Donald Trump's choice for IRS commissioner, who has a history of promoting a tax credit program now under scrutiny, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
- The IRS commissioner role is designed to have a five-year term overlapping presidential terms to ensure independence from political influence, a practice upheld by not firing IRS chiefs at the start of presidential terms.
- However, Donald Trump's intention to replace the current IRS commissioner, despite the position not being vacant, raises alarms about possible political interference in IRS operations, threatening its independence.