The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled its confirmation hearing for IRS Commissioner nominee Danny Werfel for Feb. 15, 2023. Questions likely will focus on the $80 billion in new IRS funding under the Inflation Reduction Act.
If approved by the Senate Finance Committee, Werfel will need to be confirmed by the full Senate. Both steps will likely be made easier due to the fact that Democrats retained control — and picked up one seat — in the chamber in November’s elections. Republicans, however, could try and slow the process as part of their objections to the new IRS funding.
If confirmed, Werfel will have the opportunity to dramatically transform the IRS over the next several years but will face aggressive oversight from House Republicans already critical of IRS funding. Werfel also may face questions about the disclosure of wealthy Americans’ confidential tax information to the news outlet ProPublica.
Werfel currently leads Boston Consulting Group’s global public sector practice. Unlike departing commissioner Charles Rettig, Werfel is not a tax attorney. He does have prior IRS experience, and briefly served as acting commissioner in 2013. He also served in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, as deputy controller and then as federal controller.
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