Trish Turner, the head of the IRS crypto unit, is resigning from her post, according to a Friday statement. “Digital assets have shifted from a niche issue to a core focus for global regulators, and I am proud to have helped lay the foundation for oversight in this fast-changing space,” Turner said in a statement. “Now, I’m excited to be moving to the other side of the table to help taxpayers, businesses, and institutions understand their obligations and navigate those same rules with confidence.”
Turner is leaving to serve as tax director at CryptoTaxGirl, a firm specializing in crypto-related tax guidance. She will also collaborate with the UK-based firm Asset Reality. Laura Walter, CryptoTaxGirl’s founder, says in a statement that Turner’s arrival will help “ensure our clients receive the highest level of guidance, protection, and confidence in their filings.”
Turner is the latest in a series of top IRS officials leaving the statutory body amid growing challenges the agency faces. Most recently, US President Donald Trump fired the IRS commissioner Billy Long. The agency has seen six commissioners come and go from the agency this year alone as it faces continuous cuts in funding and employees. Furthermore, the departure comes after two other top officials on crypto work, Seth Wilks and Raj Mukherjee, already left through the Trump administration’s budget-slashing campaign earlier this year.
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Turner’s departure is also bad timing for the IRS as it prepares to handle a surge in crypto tax filings as new rules come into effect. The IRS has seen its workforce decline from approximately 113,000 in the 1990s to about 76,000 today, with further layoffs likely. As the IRS continues to weaken in numbers, it will be a lot more difficult to handle Americans’ tax returns and monitor tax crimes during the 2026 tax season.