Charles Rettig

Charles Rettig is an accomplished leader with decades of experience in federal government and private legal practice. As Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service from 2018 to 2022, he oversaw the nation’s tax system and led an agency of more than 83,000 employees with an annual budget of $14.1 billion. Under his leadership, the IRS collected over $4.9 trillion in FY2022—more than 95% of the federal government’s gross revenue. Rettig’s tenure was defined by historic challenges and transformation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the agency through the implementation of three rounds of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), processing over 500 million payments totaling more than $1.5 trillion. At the same time, he guided the IRS through a rapid modernization, transitioning it from a primarily paper-based organization to one capable of operating virtually at scale. A champion of taxpayer accessibility, Rettig expanded multilingual services, including offering Form 1040 in Spanish for the first time. His efforts emphasized equitable outreach and support to underserved communities. Before joining the IRS, Rettig was a highly respected tax attorney in Los Angeles, specializing in complex tax controversy matters for high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses. His legal practice extended globally, helping clients navigate sensitive and high-stakes issues. He has been repeatedly recognized for excellence by Chambers USA, where peers described him as “phenomenal,” “brilliant,” and “a force to be reckoned with.” He was the only attorney listed as an Eminent Practitioner in the “Tax: Fraud – Nationwide” category and was named Best Lawyers’ "Tax Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation and Controversy (Los Angeles) for three consecutive years. Rettig is currently interested in board service and advisory roles with early-stage or innovative companies, where he can offer strategic, operational, and financial guidance.