Commissioner to Return to Private Practice

IRS Commissioner Lawrence B. Gibbs today announced that he will leave the Internal Revenue Service in early March to return to the private practice of law.

In his statement, Mr. Gibbs said:

"The two and one-half years I have served as Commissioner have been a very rewarding time for me and I believe that much has been accomplished. Thus it was with a sense of deep personal regret that I informed Secretary Brady of my decision to leave the IRS. He and I agree that the importance of an effective and well-managed tax administration system cannot be underestimated. With the help of the dedicated and capable IRS workforce, we have begun initiatives which will improve the state of tax administration. However, for a number of personal reasons I am not able to continue serving as Commissioner but I will look forward to working from the private sector to support the Secretary and my successor at the IRS."

Gibbs, who has served as IRS Commissioner since August 1986, was formerly a partner in the law firm of Johnson & Swanson in Dallas. In earlier service at the IRS from 1973 to 1975, Gibbs was assistant commissioner for technical matters and had served as acting Chief Counsel.

Gibbs' resignation will be effective on March 4, 1989. IRS Senior Deputy Commissioner Michael J. Murphy will serve as acting Commissioner until the new IRS Commissioner is nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate.

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