Billy Long facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Billy Long
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Nominee
Assuming office TBD
President	Donald Trump
Succeeding	Daniel Werfel
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th 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 69) Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Barbara Long ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	2
Education	University of Missouri (attended)

William Hollis Long II (born August 11, 1955) is an American politician, lobbyist and former auctioneer who served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2023. He was nominated by President Trump to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service pending Senate confirmation.

A member of the Republican Party, Long was elected to fill the district's seat in 2010, succeeding Roy Blunt upon his election to the U.S. Senate. The district included much of the southwestern quadrant of the state and was anchored in Springfield. It also included Joplin and Branson. After Blunt announced that he would not run for re-election to the Senate in 2022, Long became a candidate in the 2022 race to succeed him, but lost the Republican primary to Eric Schmitt.

Long was an early enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump. Long lacks experience in the tax industry compared to previous IRS commissioners. Long has previously called for abolishing the IRS, as well as replacing much of the tax code with a flat tax.

Early life and education

A fourth-generation native of Missouri, Long was born in Springfield in 1955. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity before dropping out. After taking time off from school for three years, Long attended a nine-day training program at the Missouri Auction School in Kansas City. He received his Certified Auctioneer designation via the National Auctioneers Association.

Career

Long was an auctioneer and owned Billy Long Auctions, LLC. He was named "Best auctioneer in the Ozarks" for seven years in a row. He was also a talk radio show host on the Springfield-based station KWTO. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, National Auctioneers Association, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association of America, and the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors.

U.S. House of Representatives

Long was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023.

Long was among the 75 Republican cosponsors to the Fair Tax Act (H.R. 25/S. 18), first introduced in 2015 by Representative Rob Woodall (R-GA) and then again in 2017. 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.

During a September 2018 House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on alleged anti-conservative bias on social media, far-right internet personality Laura Loomer interrupted the meeting. Long began a mock auction chant pretending he was selling Loomer's mobile phone until she was escorted out. The incident generated considerable laughter and applause from the audience.

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Tax consulting

After leaving Congress, Long worked as a Business and Tax Advisor who helped small businesses navigate the complexities of the IRS's rules and regulations.

Since July 2023, Long has been a realtor with Murney Associates. He also joined the network of sales people for Lifetime Advisors , a company that encourage clients to apply for tax credits. On his X profile, Long self-describes as a "Certified Tax & Business Advisor" who can help clients save 40% on their taxes. The "Certified Tax & Business Advisor" certificate was given to Long after he attended a three-day course offered by a Florida tax consultancy.

At Lifetime Advisors, Long encouraged eligible clients to apply for a controversial tax credit, the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), for which the IRS temporarily stopped accepting applications for due to a large number of firms making improper claims. 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. However, Lifetime has helped companies claim $1.3 billion dollars in tax credits.

In 2024, Long lobbied in Washington D.C. for the IRS to approve more tax credit claims.

Nominated as Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service

On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Long to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. During his time in Congress, Long repeatedly sponsored bills to abolish the IRS. President Trump "described him as a 'people person' who was 'well respected on both sides of the aisle.'"

Republicans are eager for a change in the IRS and want a new landscape. Idaho Senator Senator Mike Crapo has said he's looking forward to Long's ideas on the agency. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation, who are usually a conservative organization, has praised President Trump's selection for Long to lead the agency in reform. Rep. Jason Smith, the House Ways and Means chairman, also praised Trump’s choice to lead the tax-collection agency stating that their couldn’t have been a better choice.

However, some Democrats have raised concern. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) criticized President Trump for wanting to replace Danny Werfel, who is now the former IRS commissioner since stepping down on January 20, 2025., and Long's involvement with the scam-plagued ERC. House Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), 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..

Political positions

Donald Trump

Long was an early enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump, and claimed to have coined the phrase “getting on the Trump train." Trump has praised him, saying “He (Billy) is an extremely hard worker, and respected by all, especially by those who know him in Congress.”

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede, Long pushed Trump's false claims of voter fraud in the election. In December 2020, Long supported an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the election based on allegations of fraud.

Long supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order banning entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

Tax-Exempt Rights

In his first year of Congress, Long urged the IRS to launch a probe of the tax-exempt status of the Humane Society of the United States. The letter followed the Humane Society’s support of a successful Missouri ballot measure strengthening regulations on dog breeders.

Healthcare

In 2014, Long introduced House Resolution 129. The bill itself was a resolution that called for the House of Representatives to express their dissatisfaction with the current state of gridlock in Washington and the way partisan politics were preventing progress on key issues like healthcare. Essentially, it was a symbolic gesture meant to highlight the dysfunction and lack of cooperation among lawmakers at the time.

LGBT rights

In 2015, Long condemned the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.

Election history

2010

Republican primary

Long joined the race for the 7th Congressional District after incumbent U.S. representative Roy Blunt chose to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kit Bond. In the crowded seven-way Republican primary—the de facto election in the state's most Republican district—Long won with 36% of the vote.

General election

2012

2014

In the August 5 Republican primary, Long defeated Marshall Works, 62.4% to 37.6%.

2016

In the August 2 Republican primary, Long defeated Nathan Clay, Christopher Batsche, Matthew Evans, Lyndle Spencer, Matthew Canovi, James Nelson and Mary Byrne.

2018

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.

2020

In the August 4 Republican primary, Long defeated Eric Harleman, Kevin VanStory, Steve Chetnik and Camille Lombardi-Olive.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Power
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Health
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Committee on Homeland Security
• Republican Steering Committee

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Constitution Caucus
• U.S.-Japan Caucus