Danny Werfel, who served as commissioner of the IRS during the Biden administration, has joined the strategic advisory board of alliant, a Houston-based professional services and consulting firm formerly known as alliantgroup.
Werfel resigned from his post atop the IRS on Jan. 20, the day Donald Trump was sworn in as president, despite having more than two years left in his term. His decision to step down on Inauguration Day rather than be removed from his position by Trump quashed any potential conflict between Werfel and the incoming administration, the Wall Street Journal reported at the time.
Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, former Missouri congressman Billy Long, recently had his nomination advanced by the Senate Finance Committee and awaits a full-Senate vote.
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Werfel was sworn in as the 50th commissioner in the history of the IRS on March 14, 2023. His term was scheduled to end after Nov. 12, 2027.
- Related article: Here is What Daniel Werfel Said to IRS Employees During His First Day as Commissioner
Werfel was tasked with overseeing and implementing a plan for the roughly $79 billion the agency received from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The money would be spread out over 10 years and be used to modernize its business systems, improve taxpayer services, hire new employees, and to bolster tax enforcement.
However, a good chunk of that money has been clawed back by Republicans in debt ceiling and budget cut deals with Democrats.
Werfel also spearheaded efforts such as the IRS Direct File program, which hundreds of thousands of Americans have now used in more than a dozen states to file their federal income tax returns online for free. However, President Trump’s “one big, beautiful” tax-and-spending bill, which was passed by the House last month and is now before the Senate, includes a provision to end the Direct File program.
He also helped conduct a rigorous overhaul of the IRS’s aging technological infrastructure, focusing on digital service, security, and access. This effort included automated scanning technology, AI customer assistance chatbots, and replacing outdated digital architecture while retaining the continuity of service for millions of American taxpayers.
Werfel joins alliant’s strategic advisory board that already includes as members former IRS commissioner Mark Everson and acting commissioner Steven Miller, as well as three former commissioners of the IRS’s Small Business/Self-Employed Division—Darren Guillot, Eric Hylton, and Kathy Petronchak. Board members also include former Nebraska governor, senator, and U.S. agriculture secretary Mike Johanns; former North Dakota senator Heidi Heitkamp; and former Alabama governor Bob Riley.
The strategic advisory board “consists of tax experts and top business minds who bring their unique experiences and expertise to help our clients,” alliant says on its website.
“Danny is the singular, perfect combination of all the things we strive for within our company,” alliant CEO Dhaval Jadav said in a statement. “His experience as IRS commissioner, his consulting background, and his commitment to the growth and development of the U.S. align with our overarching goals and mission as an organization. More importantly, Danny has demonstrated a history of service to clients and people. There’s just not enough I can say about him.”
Earlier in his career, Werfel worked for the federal government under both Republican and Democratic administrations. He began his career at the Office of Management and Budget in 1997 during the Clinton administration as a policy analyst in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. He continued his work at the OMB during the Bush and Obama administrations.
After serving as OMB deputy controller, Werfel was nominated by President Barack Obama to be controller of the OMB in 2009, a post he served in for four years before becoming acting commissioner of the IRS on May 22, 2013.
Werfel followed Miller as acting commissioner of the IRS after Miller resigned on May 15 of that year. Miller departed after the IRS admitted to improperly scrutinizing the federal tax-exempt status of some conservative groups. Werfel stayed on as acting commissioner until John Koskinen was nominated and confirmed as IRS commissioner later in 2013.
Werfel joined Boston Consulting Group in 2014 and was the global leader of the consulting firm’s Public Sector practice before taking over as IRS commissioner. He previously led BCG’s Public Sector practice in North America.
“I’ve known Danny Werfel from the start of his remarkable career, and it’s always been evident how unique his talent is,” said Everson, who served as IRS commissioner from 2003 until 2007. “There are few people, in the IRS or otherwise, who are as competent, intelligent, and capable as Danny.”
“As the tax industry continues to advance and modernize, it’s critical to have the country’s foremost experts helping us stay ahead,” added Joy Taylor, managing director and head of alliant’s consulting practice. “Danny Werfel understands the ebbs and flows of this field deeply, and we’re so happy to have him join us. His consultative background and modernization experience will help strengthen alliant’s place as a global leader in the digital landscape.”
Werfel said he’s “deeply proud” to be joining alliant’s strategic advisory board and “doing my part to grow what is already an impressive business.”
“This is such a unique organization, but what attracted me was the steadfast commitment to American businesses and people. That resonated with me, as it aligns deeply with what I value and have worked toward in my career. I’m looking forward to furthering the alliant mission and working alongside the rest of the board and the alliant teams on the ground,” Werfel said in a statement.
Several months before Werfel became IRS commissioner, the agency was involved in a raid at alliant’s headquarters in Houston in May 2022.
Photo caption: Danny Werfel stands between fellow alliant strategic advisory board members Steven Miller (left) and Mark Everson. (Photo courtesy of alliant)
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Tags: Alliant, Danny Werfel, IRS, Taxes
