Billy Long, Trump's Nominee to Lead the IRS, Touts a Credential That Tax Experts Say Is Dubious

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Trump Administration
Billy Long, Trump’s Nominee to Lead the IRS, Touts a Credential That Tax Experts Say Is Dubious

The former representative from Missouri, who once pushed to abolish the IRS, has marketed himself as a certified tax and business advisor after attending only a three-day seminar.


Then-President Donald Trump talks with then-Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., in Congress in February 2019.
Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool

by Jeremy Kohler and Alex Mierjeski
Dec. 20, 12:30 p.m. EST

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Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, whom President-elect Donald Trump has named his nominee to head the IRS, touts his expertise in tax matters. ... He advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor, and he adds CTBA to his name on his X profile. That profile encourages people to message him to “save 40% on your taxes.”

But tax experts told ProPublica that they have never heard of CTBA as a credential in the tax profession. The designation is offered by a small Florida firm, Excel Empire, which was established just two years ago and only requires attendance at a three-day seminar. That is in stark contrast to the 150 credit hours and the rigorous exams required to become a certified public accountant, a standard certification for tax accountants.

In most tax cases, only lawyers, CPAs and enrolled agents — federally authorized tax practitioners — can represent taxpayers at the IRS. ... “The cost of relying on tax advice from somebody that is solely focused on minimizing the tax liabilities that you have — as opposed to somebody that’s focused on both minimizing the tax liabilities and complying with the tax law — can be extraordinarily high if you are found to be in violation of the standards,” said Nathan Goldman, an associate professor of accounting at North Carolina State University.

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Nina Olson, a prominent taxpayer advocate, said that the modern tax industry has seen “a proliferation of different groups and entities that are providing tax advice” and that consumers have no way of knowing who is competent. ... It could just be that you’ve taken a very short course, and paid a large fee for that course, and that gives you the ability to put some initials after your name,” said Olson, who served as the IRS’ national taxpayer advocate from 2001 to 2019. She is now executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, a Washington-based nonprofit that promotes fairness and access to justice in tax systems.

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[Oneear]

1. Going to be a Long 4 Years for IRS

Billy Long is out of shape, so does he pay taxes to Protect America?

[Wiz Imp]

2. Dubious? Try nonexistent. He claims a credential which doesn't exist in the tax business.

[LuckyLib]

3. Issued by a Florida "company". That's all you need to know.

[JoseBalow]

4. He paid for the course with Shrute Bucks