Billy Long | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| United States Ambassador to Iceland | |
Nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Succeeding | Carrin Patman |
| 51stCommissioner of Internal Revenue | |
| In office June 16, 2025 – August 8, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Gary Shapley |
| Preceded by | Daniel Werfel |
| Succeeded by | Scott Bessent (acting) |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's7th district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Eric Burlison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Hollis Long II (1955-08-11)August 11, 1955 (age 70) Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Order of the Rising Sun |
Long on the Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act. Recorded October 19, 2021 | |
William Hollis Long II (born August 11, 1955) is an American politician and auctioneer who served as the 51stcommissioner of internal revenue from June to August 2025. A member of theRepublican Party, he previously served as theU.S. representative forMissouri's 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2023.
Long was elected to fill the district's seat in2010, succeedingRoy Blunt upon his election to theU.S. Senate. The district included much of the southwestern quadrant of the state and was anchored inSpringfield. It also includedBranson, andJoplin. After Blunt announced that he would not run for re-election to the Senate in 2022, Long became a candidate in the2022 senate race to succeed him, but lost the Republican primary toEric Schmitt.[1]
Long was an early and enthusiastic supporter ofDonald Trump.[2] Long's experience in the tax industry is less than a typical IRS commissioner,[3] but his twelve years in the U.S. House of Representatives is the most of any IRS commissioner since at least 1900, commissioners typically coming from other federal bureaucratic posts or private practice.[citation needed] Long has previously called for abolishing the IRS,[4] as well as replacing much of the tax code with aflat tax.[5][6]
Long was nominated byPresident Donald Trump to serve as the commissioner of theInternal Revenue Service.[7][8] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June 2025, and took office the following month.
On August 8, 2025,The New York Times reported that Long was being removed by Trump in preparation for an ambassadorship to Iceland.[9][10]
William Hollis Long II was born inSpringfield on August 11, 1955.[11][12] He is a fourth-generation native of Missouri.[13] He graduated from the K–12Greenwood Laboratory School in 1973.[14][15] He attended theUniversity of Missouri from 1973 to 1976 but did not graduate.[13][16] Long then attended and later graduated in 1979 from the Missouri Auction School, based inKansas City.[17][18] In 1983, he received a professional designation from the Certified Auctioneers Institute, hosted atIndiana University Bloomington.[18][19][20]
Long was an auctioneer and owned Billy Long Auctions,LLC from 1979 to 2011.[21][22] He was named "Best Auctioneer in the Ozarks" for seven years in a row.[23][24] In 2016, he was inducted into National Auctioneers' Association Hall of Fame[25][26] after his 2009 induction into the Missouri Professional Auctioneers’ Association Hall of Fame.[27][28][29] He was a talk radio show host on the Springfield-based stationKWTO and worked as a realtor part time.[30] He is a member of theNational Association of Realtors,National Auctioneers Association,the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, theNational Rifle Association of America, and the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors. He was also the former president of the Missouri Auctioneers' Association.[17][31][32]
Long was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023.
Long was among the 75 Republican cosponsors to theFair Tax Act (H.R. 25/S. 18), first introduced in 2015 by RepresentativeRob Woodall (R-GA) and then again in 2017.[33] The bill would have phased out all IRS funding and abolished the IRS in 2019. It also would have scrapped the income tax system and replaced it with a 23%national retail sales tax primarily administered by the states.[33]
During a September 2018House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on alleged anti-conservative bias onsocial media, far-rightinternet personalityLaura Loomer interrupted the meeting. Long began a mockauction chant pretending he was selling Loomer's mobile phone until she was escorted out.[34][35] The incident generated considerable laughter and applause from the audience.[36]
In September 2018, in response to sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nomineeBrett Kavanaugh, Long retweeted a Twitter post comparing the allegations to a "kiss on the forehead".[37]
In December 2021, Long was given theOrder of the Rising Sun, on behalf of theemperor of Japan in recognition of Long's "significant contributions to deepening bilateral relations and promoting legislative exchanges between Japan and the United States".[38][39]
Long announced on August 3, 2021 that he would run in the2022 United States Senate election in Missouri.[40] Long joined a crowded field of candidates including formerGovernor of MissouriEric Greitens,Attorney General of MissouriEric Schmitt, fellowUnited States RepresentativeVicky Hartzler, andPresident Pro Tempore of theMissouri SenateDave Schatz.
Long ended up getting fourth place, receiving 5% of the vote.
In 2023, Long worked as a salesperson for Lifetime Advisors and Commerce Terrace Consulting, two companies that encourage clients to apply for tax credits and subsequently take a cut of the benefits.[4][41] On hisX profile, Long self-describes as a "Certified Tax & Business Advisor".[4] The "Certified Tax & Business Advisor" certificate was given to Long after he attended a three-day course offered by a Florida tax consultancy.[4]
At Lifetime Advisors, Long encouraged eligible clients to apply for a tax credit, theEmployee Retention Credit (ERC), for which the IRS temporarily stopped accepting applications because a large number of firms were making improper claims.[4] Lifetime Advisors took an expansive view of eligibility for the tax credit, sometimes even challenging clients who did not believe they qualified. Companies that erroneously apply for the credit are at risk of having to pay penalties to the IRS. The IRS has warned companies not to rely on companies that ask for a cut of a tax credit.[4] Lifetime has helped companies claim $1.3 billion in ERTC tax credits.[42] In a September 2023 interview, Long stated that he helped only eligible companies claim the credit.[4] The credit itself has cost the government $230 billion.[43]
In 2024, Long lobbied in Washington, D.C., for the IRS to approve more tax credit claims.[4]
In July 2023, Long became a realtor with Murney Associates.[30]
On December 4, 2024, President-electDonald Trump announced his intention to nominate Long to serve asthe commissioner of theInternal Revenue Service.[44] During his time in Congress, Long repeatedly sponsored bills to abolish the IRS.[33] President Trump "described him as a 'people person' who was 'well respected on both sides of the aisle.'"[44]
In January 2025, following his nomination to head the IRS, Long received nearly $137,000 in campaign contributions to his Senate campaign committee, which had raised less than $36,000 during the previous two years.[45] Long then paid himself $130,000 in remuneration for the outstanding portion of a $250,000 loan he had made to his 2022 US Senate campaign.[45] Watchdog groups noted the "highly unusual" nature of a failed candidate being given donations after being nominated to a position where he could influence government policy for those donors.[46]
Republican senatorMike Crapo stated that he was looking forward to Long's ideas on the agency.[47] TheNational Taxpayers Union, a conservative advocacy organization, praised President Trump's selection for Long to lead the agency in reform.[48]Jason Smith, the House Ways and Means chairman, also praised Trump’s choice to lead the tax-collection agency, stating that: "I couldn’t have picked anyone better."[49]
However, some Democrats raised concern. SenatorRon Wyden of Oregon criticizedPresident Trump for wanting to replaceDanny Werfel, who later stepped down as commissioner on January 20, 2025,[50][51] and Long's involvement with the scam-plaguedEmployee Retention Credit.[33][52] House representativeDon Beyer, who serves on the House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee, echoed his support for Werfel to complete his term, and dismay at Long's lack of qualifications and previous efforts to eliminate the agency he was nominated to lead.[33]
In March 2025, while Long's IRS nomination was pending in the Senate, he was appointed as a senior advisor in the Office of Personnel Management.[53][54] In June,Talking Points Memo reported that Long was said by Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat of Oregon) to be earning $195,200, "which is the maximum salary for a federal worker in Washington D.C.," in this position, while Long's "internal OPM calendar . . . shows him averaging less than three items per week over the past three months".[55]
Long was confirmed by theU.S. Senate on June 12, 2025 by a 53–44 vote.[56] He was sworn-in four days later on June 16, 2025.[57]
On August 8, 2025, President Trump removed Long as IRS commissioner, less than two months after his confirmation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent became acting commissioner.
On his removal as IRS commissioner, Trump had asked Long to become his ambassador to Iceland.[58][9][10] Long was vetted as competent to serve in the post by the State Department in November 2025.[59]
On January 13, 2026, Long was nominated to serve as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Iceland.[60]
On January 15, 2026, Long suggested that Iceland could become the 52nd U.S. state, amidrising tensions over Greenland, the threats from Donald Trump about making Canada become the 51st state of USA, and the2026 United States intervention in Venezuela.[61] This resulted in an Icelandic petition demanding that Long should be rejected as an ambassador to Iceland.[62]
Long was an early enthusiastic supporter ofDonald Trump, and claimed to have coined the phrase "getting on the Trump train."[2] Trump has praised him, saying "He (Billy) is an extremely hard worker, and respected by all, especially by those who know him in Congress."[63]
AfterJoe Biden won the2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede,[64] Long pushed Trump'sfalse claims of voter fraud in the election.[65][66] In December 2020, Long supported an amicus brief in support ofTexas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the election based on allegations of fraud.[67][68]
Long supported President Donald Trump's 2017executive order banning entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.[69]
Long served on theEnergy and Commerce Committee during his entirety in Congress. He advocated for access to affordable energy for Americans.[70] In 2010, he signed theNo Climate Pledge byAFP. Long was a proponent of drilling for oil, voting for opening the outer continental shelf to oil drilling.[70] During theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Long called for the sanctioning of Russia's oil to cut offPutin's ability to wage war.[71][70]
Long has stated that he is open to either aflat tax or afair tax as a way to fix the American tax system. He has voted in support of tax relief and said that the government takes too much, penalizes success, and has created a tax code that is too complex.[72]
In his first year of Congress, Long co-sponsored the Fair Tax Act of 2011. This bill called for the replacement of income tax and estate tax with 23% sales tax.[72] Also in 2011, he was part of a push to get the IRS to launch a probe of thetax-exempt status of theHumane Society of the United States.[73] The letter followed the Humane Society’s support of a successful Missouri ballot measure strengthening regulations on dog breeders.[2] In 2015, Long co-sponsored H.R.25 & S.155,[72] a bill to "promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States." In December 2024, he was appointed to lead theIRS, the organization he previously called to abolish in that vote.[74]
In 2014, Long introduced the Taxpayer Transparency Act.[75] The bill required that federal agencies label any distributed promotional or educational material carry the "paid for by taxpayers" label. The act was a response to a multi-million ad campaign by theDepartment of Health and Human Services to promote theAffordable Care Act.[76] The bill passed the House amended, before the Senate then passed on to theCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.[75]
Long opposed stricter gun control measures, including universal background checks and red-flag laws. He argued that such measures infringe onSecond Amendment rights and would not effectively prevent gun violence.[77] In 2022, in an interview following theUvalde school shooting, Long blamed the increase inmass shootings on society’s lack of respect for human life, which he believes began with the legalization of abortion.[78][79]
Long was repeatedly endorsed by theNational Rifle Association of America, earning an "A" rating from them for his demonstrated record of being a pro-gun Congressman.[80]
In 2013, Long voted no on re-authorizing theViolence Against Women Act.[81]
Long holds apro-life position on abortion. He has supported efforts to limit abortion access, including legislation aimed at defundingPlanned Parenthood and co-sponsored theSanctity of Human Life Act that proposed to grant fullpersonhood tofertilised embryos. Long has also expressed his support for the overturning ofRoe v. Wade and believes that abortion laws should be regulated at the state level. Additionally, he opposes federal funding for abortion services.[82]
In 2015, Long cosponsored thePain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36). This bill sought to prohibit most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.[83]
In 2015, Long condemned the Supreme Court ruling inObergefell v. Hodges, which held thatsame-sex marriage bans violated the U.S.Constitution.[84] In 2022, Long voted against theRespect for Marriage Act that required all states and territories to recognise same-sex andinterracial marriages.[85]
Long considers himself to be an advocate forfreedom of religion.[86] He voted yes in support of both theFirst Amendment Defense Act which aimed to legally protect religious opposition tohomosexuality and same-sex marriage as free speech,[81] and H.Con.Res.13.[87][81] which reaffirmed the use of “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States government and encouraged use of the motto in public institutions.[87][88] Long is a member of theFirst and Calvary Presbyterian Church inSpringfield, Missouri.[89]
Long joined the race for Senate against then Missouri attorney general Eric Schmitt. In the crowded 21-way Republican primary, Long came in fourth with 5% of the vote, with just over 32,500 votes. Contenders in this race included former Missouri governor Eric Greitins, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler and President Pro Tempore of the Missouri Senate Dave Schatz.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Schmitt | 299,282 | 45.6 | |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 144,903 | 22.1 | |
| Republican | Eric Greitens | 124,155 | 18.9 | |
| Republican | Billy Long | 32,603 | 5.0 | |
| Republican | Mark McCloskey | 19,540 | 3.0 | |
| Republican | Dave Schatz | 7,509 | 1.1 | |
| Republican | Patrick A. Lewis | 6,085 | 0.9 | |
| Republican | Curtis D. Vaughn | 3,451 | 0.5 | |
| Republican | Eric McElroy | 2,805 | 0.4 | |
| Republican | Robert Allen | 2,111 | 0.3 | |
| Republican | C. W. Gardner | 2,044 | 0.3 | |
| Republican | Dave Sims | 1,949 | 0.3 | |
| Republican | Bernie Mowinski | 1,602 | 0.2 | |
| Republican | Deshon Porter | 1,574 | 0.2 | |
| Republican | Darrell Leon McClanahan III | 1,139 | 0.2 | |
| Republican | Rickey Joiner | 1,084 | 0.2 | |
| Republican | Robert Olson | 1,081 | 0.2 | |
| Republican | Dennis Lee Chilton | 755 | 0.1 | |
| Republican | Russel Pealer Breyfogle Jr. | 685 | 0.1 | |
| Republican | Kevin C. Schepers | 681 | 0.1 | |
| Republican | Hartford Tunnell | 637 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 655,675 | 100.0 | ||
Long joined the race for the 7th Congressional District after incumbentU.S. representativeRoy Blunt chose to run for theU.S. Senate seat being vacated byKit Bond. In the crowded seven-way Republican primary—thede facto election in the state's most Republican district—Long won with 36% of the vote.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 38,218 | 36.56 | |
| Republican | Jack Goodman | 30,401 | 29.08 | |
| Republican | Gary Nodler | 14,561 | 13.93 | |
| Republican | Darrell Moore | 9,312 | 8.91 | |
| Republican | Jeff Wisdom | 4,552 | 4.36 | |
| Republican | Mike Moon | 4,473 | 4.28 | |
| Republican | Steve Hunter | 2,173 | 2.08 | |
| Republican | Michael Wardell | 844 | 0.81 | |
| Total votes | 104,534 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 141,010 | 63.39 | |
| Democratic | Scott Eckersley | 67,545 | 30.37 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 13,866 | 6.23 | |
| Write-In | Others | 10 | 0.00 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 203,565 | 63.87 | |
| Democratic | Jim Evans | 98,498 | 30.90 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 16,668 | 5.23 | |
| Write-In | Others | 9 | 0.00 | |
In the August 5 Republican primary, Long defeated Marshall Works, 62.4% to 37.6%.[97]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 104,054 | 63.46 | |
| Democratic | Jim Evans | 47,282 | 28.84 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 12,584 | 7.68 | |
| Write-In | Others | 37 | 0.02 | |
In the August 2 Republican primary, Long defeated Nathan Clay, Christopher Batsche, Matthew Evans, Lyndle Spencer, Matthew Canovi, James Nelson and Mary Byrne.[98]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 228,692 | 67.5 | |
| Democratic | Genevieve Williams | 92,756 | 27.4 | |
| Libertarian | Benjamin Brixey | 17,153 | 5.1 | |
| Write-In | Others | 6 | 0.0 | |
In the Republican primary, Long defeated Jim Evans, Lance Norris, and Benjamin Holcomb. In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Jamie Schoolcraft, who had defeated Kenneth Hatfield, John Farmer de la Torre, and Vincent Jennings in the Democratic primary.[99]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 195,872 | 66.3 | |
| Democratic | Jamie Schoolcraft | 88,642 | 30 | |
| Libertarian | Benjamin Brixey | 10,833 | 3.7 | |
| Write-In | Others | 270 | 0.1 | |
In the August 4 Republican primary, Long defeated Eric Harleman, Kevin VanStory, Steve Chetnik and Camille Lombardi-Olive.[100]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Long | 254,318 | 68.9 | |
| Democratic | Teresa Montseny | 98,111 | 26.6 | |
| Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 15,573 | 4.2 | |
| Independent | Audrey Richards (write-in) | 1,279 | 0.3 | |
| Write-in | 2 | 0.0 | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 7th congressional district 2011–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Michael Faulkender Acting | Commissioner of Internal Revenue 2025 | Succeeded by Scott Bessent Acting |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
