
Danny Werfel said on Dec. 17 that he would be resigning from his position as IRS commissioner, according to Journal of Accountancy. He was appointed to the role in early 2023 and still had two years left to serve his term.
According to Accounting Today, Werfel is set to resign on Jan. 20, President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration day. He stated in an email to IRS employees that "After significant introspection and consultation with others, I've determined the best way to support a successful transition is to depart the IRS on January 20, 2025. While leaving a job you love is never easy, I take comfort in knowing that the civil servant leaders and employees at the IRS are the exact right team to effectively steward this organization forward until a new IRS Commissioner is confirmed. I know this because of what I have seen you achieve over the past two years—remarkable work that will serve as a strong foundation for the future."
The Journal said that a highlight of Werfel's leadership at the IRS was the enhancement of the agency's digital offerings. "During his tenure, Commissioner Werfel laid a foundation, moving the IRS in the right direction to improve taxpayer services and start instituting modern technologies," Melanie Lauridsen, AICPA's vice president in tax policy and advocacy, stated in a LinkedIn post. "We appreciate his years of service and dedication to the tax professional community. We are ready and willing to work with his successor to continue to modernize the IRS so that taxpayers get the service they deserve."
Trump has nominated former Missouri congressman Billy Long as IRS commissioner before the end of Werfel's term in 2027. The Journal said that Doug O'Donnell, the current deputy commissioner, will be acting head of the IRS until a nominee is confirmed.