Trish Turner has officially resigned as head of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) division of digital assets just three months after taking on the role.
Turner worked with the IRS for more than two decades and announced her departure in a LinkedIn post on Friday.
In her reflection on her time at the IRS, Turner expressed appreciation for the opportunities afforded her and the teammates she worked with, stressing that her team had helped navigate complex matters and “lay the groundwork” for the IRS’s digital asset strategy.
Turner was appointed in May following the departure of Sulolit “Raj” Mukherjee and Seth Wilks, two private-sector specialists, who left not long after their appointment and amid a broader shakeup in the division after about a year.
Moving to Private Sector with Crypto Tax Girl
While Turner said she is leaving the IRS, she will continue to be involved in the digital asset and taxation space from another perspective.
According to Bloomberg Tax, Turner will join the private sector as the new tax director at Crypto Tax Girl, a well-known crypto tax advisory firm.
The firm’s founding partner, Laura Walter, mentioned Turner in a LinkedIn post, stating that Turner’s experience would be invaluable in preparing clients for substantial changes to crypto tax obligations and compliance.
Turner herself stated, “I want to build bridges between industry and regulators,” demonstrating her commitment to steering policy and practice from outside government.
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Wider U.S. Crypto Taxation Big Picture
Turner’s departure comes at a time when U.S. tax policy on crypto is on the cusp of a big new push.
In the last few months, the IRS and other government agencies have intensified messaging around tax reporting and compliance in a fast-changing digital asset market.
In March, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) proposed that the IRS cut its staff by 20%, which prompted debate about where we put resources when it comes to tax enforcement.
On July 11, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on whether clearer tax treatment of digital assets could be established.
Days earlier, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration criticized the IRS for its treatment of criminal investigations that involve digital assets, stating that they repeatedly fail to follow procedures.
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Regulatory and Political Shifts Shape Crypto Oversight
The broader environment around the regulation of crypto taxation continues to evolve in many ways.
On April 11, U.S. President Donald Trump, supported by the Republican-dominated Congress, signed a bipartisan congressional resolution that repealed a Biden-era rule requiring decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to report transactions to the IRS.
The resolution highlights the ongoing political split over how digital assets should be taxed and regulated.
Against this backdrop, Turner’s resignation highlights the difficulties the IRS faces in maintaining a continuity of leadership in its crypto division in an environment of heightened scrutiny, rapid innovation, and competing policy directions.
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Leadership Changes Across the Crypto Industry
Turner’s departure also indicates a bigger trend of leadership turnover in the crypto space. UnoCrypto has reported various of these leadership shifts.
On August 1, Bitpanda co-founder Paul Klanschek stepped out of the CEO role and into an advisory capacity while Deputy CEO Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad took over as CEO to prepare for the potential of going public.
On August 18, Story co-founder Jason Zhao resigned to start a new AI company called Poseidon, while staying on in a strategic adviser role to Story.
These resignations reflect the volatility and fluidity of the crypto and tech spaces and the frequency with which transitions in leadership reflect shifts in strategy, fresh opportunities, and the lack of stability in positions of market and regulatory resistance.
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