IRS chief counsel to depart post

The acting chief counsel for the Internal Revenue Service is scheduled to leave his position amid reports of clashes with the Trump administration. News outlets including Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Ken Kies was being forced out of the role, citing anonymous sources familiar with the situation.

Kies had served as acting chief counsel to the IRS and as an assistant secretary for tax policy at the Treasury Department.

Reported disagreements Reports indicate Kies had warned administration members against directing the IRS on tax audits. Federal law prohibits the president, vice president, and executive branch employees from requesting that the IRS conduct or terminate an audit of any specific taxpayer. It remains unclear whether any White House request triggered the reported conflict.

Background on related developments In May the Justice Department announced a settlement that would have granted Trump and his family immunity from IRS audits and created a $1.8 billion fund for those deemed harmed by government actions. A federal judge in south Florida later voided the agreement, citing concerns over self-dealing and improper interference with audits.

Media reports state Kies had refused to work on that settlement. Separate reports noted differences with the administration over high-value tax issues, including tax breaks for landowners who limit development. Kies previously worked as a personal tax lawyer for Trump before joining the administration.