The Trusted Professional | Trusted Professional

IRS Shake-Up: Bessent Steps in as IRS Head After Trump Ousts Long

GettyImages-174879501 IRS Internal Revenue Service

On Aug. 8, President Donald Trump removed IRS Commissioner Billy Long from his position. Long will be replaced on a temporary basis by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, reports NBC News, citing three individuals with knowledge of the matter.

Long, sworn in as commissioner in June, served only a brief tenure. NBC News said that the change also comes days after Trump's new tariffs became effective and a month after Trump signed several tax cuts and tax code changes into law.

Long confirmed to NBC News that he is leaving the job and told the news outlet in a text: “It is an honor to serve my friend President Trump, and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead."

In a statement, a Treasury spokesperson noted that the department "thanks Commissioner Long for his commitment to public service and the American people. His zeal and enthusiasm to bring a fresh perspective to the Federal Government was evident in both the House of Representatives and as part of the Trump Administration."

On the status of replacement candidates, the spokesperson stated that "a new candidate for Commissioner will be announced at the appropriate time."

Bessent will be the sixth person in 2025 to head up the IRS under Trump. Danny Werfel, who was nominated to the role by ex-President Joe Biden, also held the job until Trump's inauguration in January, according to NBC News.

Bessent is a man with many hats as this new interim commissioner position is in addition to his long list of roles. These include managing trade talks with China, Canada and Mexico as well as other countries that are still trying to negotiate tariff rates. Bessent is also assisting with finding the next Federal Reserve chair. The IRS is under the Treasury Department.

A day prior to his leaving, Long sent all IRS staff an email stating, “Please enjoy a 70-minute early exit tomorrow. That way you’ll be rested for my 70th birthday on Monday,” according to The New York Times.

During the Trump administration, the IRS has experienced expansive job cuts as part of an initiative by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Prior to being confirmed by the Senate to head up the tax agency, Long was a congressman from Missouri from 2011 to 2023. Before becoming a Congressman, Long was an auctioneer.

According NBC News, the Trump administration is drastically changing how the U.S. government is collecting revenue. The U.S. is currently collecting billions more in tariff revenue every month because of the administration’s new import taxes. Thus far in 2025, importers, including small and large U.S. companies, have paid over $100 billion in customs duties to the U.S. government.

Trump has committed to establishing an “external revenue service” to collect the tariff revenues, although the task is still performed by the Treasury Department and Customs and Border Protection, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security.

In July, Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) that includes comprehensive tax cuts, spending initiatives, and service cuts. The OBBA extends the expiring tax cuts  that Trump enacted in 2017 during his first term. The OBBA also temporarily cuts taxes on tips and overtime pay and allows deductions on auto loan interest payments. Additionally, It also includes billions of dollars in new spending for the military and mass deportations.

In terms of the SALT deduction, Anchin said that, under the OBBA, for tax year 2025, the SALT deduction cap is set to rise to $40,000 from $10,000 for joint filers (to $20,000 from $5,000 for separate filers).

Beginning in 2026, the cap will increase by 1 percent annually until 2029 and then afterwards reverting to the original $10,000 level in 2030.