Seasoned US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official Trish Turner has been designated to head the agency’s digital assets division after the exit of two prominent crypto-oriented executives.
Turner, who has dedicated over 20 years to the IRS and most recently acted as a senior advisor within the Digital Assets Office, will now lead the unit, as per a report from Bloomberg Tax referencing a source acquainted with the circumstances.
Her elevation signifies a notable shift in leadership during a time when US crypto tax enforcement is under both internal and external scrutiny.
On May 5, Sulolit “Raj” Mukherjee and Seth Wilks, two private-sector specialists appointed to spearhead the IRS’s crypto unit, departed after approximately a year in their positions.
Mukherjee held the role of compliance and implementation executive director, whereas Wilks was responsible for strategy and development. Wilks announced his resignation on LinkedIn, while Mukherjee confirmed his decision in a statement to Bloomberg Tax.
“The truth is that federal employees have endured a very challenging environment in recent months,” Wilks noted. “If stepping back helps to safeguard someone else’s role, then I am at ease with the choice.”
Related: Coinbase submits brief to US Supreme Court in favor of taxpayers’ privacy
IRS intensifies crypto examination
The IRS has amplified its attention on cryptocurrency in recent years, enhancing audits and criminal investigations related to digital asset transactions.
It also sought to introduce comprehensive crypto broker reporting mandates, which faced strong opposition from industry stakeholders and was ultimately revoked by President Donald Trump.
Scheduled to take effect in 2027, the so-called IRS DeFi broker rule aimed to broaden the tax authority’s existing reporting obligations to encompass DeFi platforms, compelling them to reveal gross proceeds from crypto sales, including details about taxpayers engaged in the transactions.
Related: NFT trader faces imprisonment for $13M tax fraud on CryptoPunk earnings
Turner’s leadership also coincides with a transformation in Washington’s stance on crypto regulation.
With the return of the Trump administration in January, federal bodies have eased regulations considered onerous to digital asset progress.
For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission has curtailed or paused over a dozen enforcement actions against crypto enterprises. Moreover, the Department of Justice has announced the closure of its cryptocurrency enforcement unit, indicating a more lenient approach to the sector.
Internally, the IRS is also facing instability. Over 23,000 employees have reportedly shown interest in resigning after Trump reinstated a deferred resignation policy, raising concerns regarding long-term staffing and morale within the agency.
Magazine: Bitcoin predicted to reach $1M ‘by 2029,’ CIA recognizes Bitcoin: Hodler’s Digest, April 27 – May 3