Senate Confirms Biden’s Pick for IRS Commissioner

On March 9, the U.S. Senate approved President Joe Biden’s nomination for Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Daniel “Danny” Werfel’s confirmation was confirmed by 54 votes to 42.

“Mr. Werfel told the Finance Committee that he will make his priorities delivering fairness and building trust,” Senator Ron Wyden (D.Ore.), noted the Senate floor prior to the vote. “We know that he will do just that because he’s done it before.”

Former President Barack Obama selected Werfel to be the acting IRS Commissioner in 2013, while it was being scrutinized for its targeting of conservative groups.

Werfel’s then performance can be described as “one that…” “improved trust” Wyden indicated confidence in Werfel in the IRS and his impartiality when he carried out his duties of commissioner.

Manchin had other doubts.

“While Daniel Werfel is supremely qualified to serve as the IRS commissioner, I have zero faith he will be given the autonomy to perform the job in accordance with the law and for that reason, I cannot support his nomination,” Manchin explained the matter in an interview on Wednesday statement, voicing concerns about the implementation by the Biden administration of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Werfel, who also previously worked for the Office of Management and Budget, will once again lead the IRS during a tense period as, per the IRA, the agency is set to receive an $80 billion increase in funding over the next 10 years—a boost Republicans have decried As a way to make an “army of IRS agents.”

A bill to take back more than $70 Billion of the funds was approved in January by members on both sides of the House. This bill is known as the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act and has not yet been considered by the Senate.

“This was our very first act of the new Congress, because government should work for you, not against you,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) noted Following the passage of the bill. “Promises made. Promises kept.”

In the course of Werfel’s confirmation, the Senate Finance Committee requested Werfel to explain how the IRS would spend any new funds that he directed. He replied that he would not. pledged It is not necessary to increase tax audits for households and businesses earning less than $400,000 annually.

“If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed, the audit and compliance priorities will be focused on enhancing the IRS’s capabilities to ensure that America’s highest earners comply with applicable tax laws,” Werfel made a vow at the Feb. 15 confirmation hearing.

“If poor people are more likely to be audited than the wealthy, that is something I think potentially degrades public trust and needs to be addressed within the tax system,” He added.