See What Procedurally Taxing is Saying About the New Nominee for IRS Commissioner CHARLES RETTIG
Posted by Hochman Salkin Toscher Perez P.C. 
Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Procedurally Taxing
February 20, 2018
by: Keith Fogg
The press reports that President Trump would nominate Chuck Rettig as the new IRS Commissioner were followed with a formal announcement. Assuming he is confirmed, Mr. Rettig will serve as the first tax lawyer in this position in the new millennium. I applaud the return to having someone run the IRS who has a deep understanding of tax law but perhaps this shows my age rather than my management acumen. In addition to applauding the return to the position of commissioner someone who has a career in tax law, I also applaud the selection of Mr. Rettig who will perform ably in this position based on his experience and demeanor.
For those interested in tax procedure and tax controversy, it is especially notable that the President has nominated Mr. Rettig. Even in the bygone era of tax lawyers as commissioners, it was not necessarily the norm to appoint a tax lawyer who specialized in controversy rather than tax planning. This is an important opportunity for the shaping of tax administration by someone very familiar with tax procedure and the issues created when taxpayers have a problem with the IRS. One earlier commissioner with a litigation background (having taken Flora v. United States to the Supreme Court twice) who served with distinction and stood up to President Nixon when he sought to use the IRS to torment his “enemies” was Randolph Thrower. It is a proud tradition to uphold.
