U.S. tax chief nominee pledges independence despite 'Trump' hotel interest

Source: Reuters

JUNE 28, 2018 / 1:50 PM / UPDATED 29 MINUTES AGO

David Morgan
4 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Internal Revenue Service promised independent leadership of the U.S. tax-collecting agency on Thursday, but drew a senator’s criticism for not disclosing business ties to a Trump-branded hotel in Hawaii.

Charles Rettig, a Beverly Hills, California, tax lawyer, will be tasked with implementing Trump’s sweeping new tax law if confirmed by the Senate as commissioner of the IRS, an agency already beset by technology and customer service problems.

At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Rettig assured lawmakers that he had not pledged loyalty to Trump.

“I would hope that the members of this committee and the American taxpayers see me as staunchly independent, or more so,” Rettig told the panel, which oversees tax policy.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax-irs/u-s-tax-chief-nominee-pledges-independence-despite-trump-hotel-interest-idUSKBN1JO2WE?rpc=401&