Washington, D.C. – Executive Director Chad Hooper of the Professional Managers Association (PMA) – formed in 1981 by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Managers as a national membership association representing the interests of professional managers, management officials and non-bargaining unit employees in the federal government and within the IRS – released the following statement urging the President to nominate a new IRS Commissioner:
“The IRS is at a critical juncture. With historic investment coming from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the IRS needs strong, stable leadership to turn this opportunity into results for the American people. It needs competent leadership that is aware of the complex nature of tax administration and the many facets of our tax system. Current IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig has this knowledge, and it has enabled him to lead the agency with efficiency and skill. Rettig brought nearly 40 years of experience in tax law to the IRS, allowing him to speak proficiently to both IRS employees and outside stakeholders. This is the experience the future Commissioner needs,” Hooper began.
“Given the historic investment coming from the IRA and the call for significant hiring increases, the President may be inclined to appoint a commissioner with management experience, rather than tax experience. This is a mistake. The IRS does not need someone with deep management or business experience. It does not need a cheerleader from the consulting community. It needs a tax leader,” Hooper continued.
“As Commissioner Rettig proved, IRS employees want someone who speaks their language, understands their mission, and can bridge gaps between the workforce and the tax community. Only someone with intimate knowledge of the tax system can do that. Otherwise, even the most well renowned human capital leader will fail to leave a legacy of success. Finally, it is no secret that certain lawmakers are extremely critical of the IRS. It is easy to attack perceived politicization or mismanagement. Commissioner Rettig has stood strong against these attacks and fiercely defended the IRS workforce precisely because he understands how tax administration works. Employees and managers recognize this expertise, and it motivates their work. For these reasons, we encourage the President to look to the tax community for the next IRS commissioner,” Hooper furthered
“As the Service’s mission continues to expand to meet the needs of the nation, having a confirmed IRS Commissioner with the knowledge needed to advocate for the funding, resources, and certainty required to deliver on promises made to taxpayers is essential. Commissioner Rettig’s term expires on November 12. The Senate confirmation process takes time. Therefore, we urge the President to act quickly to start the process by naming a nominee. Our nation is in a state of worsening fiscal health and the IRS is its largest revenue source for the federal government. It is critical the IRS has stable, continuous leadership in place to support the nation during this time. A smooth transition between leaders is vital. President Biden must move forward with a nominee immediately, so stakeholders and the Senate have the time to properly assess the selection without creating a lapse in leadership” Hooper concluded.
