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ProPublica

Billy Long, Trump’s Nominee to Lead the IRS, Touts a Credential That Tax Experts Say Is Dubious

ProPublica
Summary
Nutrition label

82% Informative

Tax experts say they have never heard of CTBA as a credential in the tax profession.

The designation is offered by a small Florida firm, Excel Empire , which only requires attendance at a three-day seminar.

In most tax cases, only lawyers, CPAs and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers at the IRS .

There is no evidence that either Excel Empire , Long or the firms that he worked for engaged in wrongdoing.

Long said he and his colleagues had helped only taxpayers who were entitled to the benefit.

Long pursued legislation to abolish the IRS and establish a national sales tax.

The IRS and the Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment.

VR Score

83

Informative language

80

Neutral language

55

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

47

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

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