WASHINGTON – Margie Rollinson took the oath of office today to become the 49th IRS Chief Counsel and the first woman to permanently hold the top legal position at the nation’s tax agency.

Rollinson was sworn in and began work today at the IRS.

“Margie brings a wide range of experience from inside and outside government to this important role,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “She will provide leadership and guidance on tax issues during a critical time in the history of the IRS. Her background and insights will be a great addition to the IRS leadership team and the Chief Counsel organization.”

With her new role, Rollinson marks a historic milestone for the IRS and nation’s tax system. She is the first woman to ever formally serve as IRS Chief Counsel, a position that dates back to 1866. While the Chief Counsel position has had several women serve temporarily in an acting capacity, there had never been a woman formally confirmed by the Senate until she was confirmed Feb. 29 to lead the Chief Counsel organization.

At the IRS, Rollinson will lead one of the largest legal teams in the nation. The Chief Counsel organization has approximately 2,600 employees.

As a traditional part of her role as Chief Counsel, Rollinson will also serve as assistant general counsel at the Treasury Department. The Chief Counsel and the Commissioner are the only two Senate-confirmed positions at the IRS.

She rejoins the IRS following a variety of roles in the tax world. Rollinson retired from the firm Ernst & Young, where she served as the Deputy Director of the National Tax Department since the start of 2019. She began her career at Ernst & Young in 1987 (known then as Ernst & Whinney), becoming a partner in 1997. In 2003, she became the Director of the International Tax Services National Tax Group, where she served clients directly and also led the International Tax Technical Committee.

Her work at the IRS began in 2013 when she became Technical Deputy Associate Chief Counsel in the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel International, and she was named Associate Chief Counsel International in 2016. In this role, Rollinson oversaw an office of 100 tax lawyers who were responsible for issuing published guidance and providing technical expertise on international tax rules.

Rollinson received her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1984, and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1987. She is a member of the Maryland Bar Association.