

IR-2003-93, July 24, 2003
WASHINGTON — IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson has selected Mark E. Matthews, a veteran of federal law enforcement and tax administration, to be the agency’s new Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.

“Mark has an excellent background in law enforcement and tax administration complemented by recent experience in international and domestic finance,” Everson said. “This unique combination of skills makes him the ideal choice to hold this critical IRS leadership post.”
Matthews returns to the IRS after serving at Deutsche Bank as a managing director and Global Co-Head of Anti-Money Laundering. He joined the global investment bank after serving as the IRS Chief of Criminal Investigation.
Previously, Matthews held positions as Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Justice Department, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, as a special assistant to Director William Webster at the FBI and CIA and as a private attorney at Washington’s Crowell & Moring.
Matthews will supervise the agency’s four business units along with Criminal Investigation and the Office of Professional Responsibility. Everson noted that Matthews will lead the agency’s efforts to continue the drive for better taxpayer service. Matthews will also focus on prioritizing enforcement initiatives and reengineering processes to enhance compliance with the tax laws.
Matthews will direct the agency’s continuing efforts to crack down on abusive tax shelters, foreign and domestic tax evasion, tax scams, schemes and other tax abuses.
“Mark is a proven law enforcement and tax professional,” Everson said. “He will lead our compliance efforts across all taxpayer segments, but with particular attention to enforcing the law in the corporate arena and for high-income individuals who enter into abusive shelters to game the system.”
Nancy Killefer, Chair of the IRS Oversight Board applauded the selection, calling it “an excellent appointment.”

During his previous work at the IRS, Matthews led IRS Criminal Investigation during a critical period of change. He helped CI regain its primary focus on investigating tax code violations and launched major enforcement actions on a variety of fronts, including targeting foreign and domestic abusive trusts and other areas. During his tenure, CI started a computer crimes unit to counter development of electronic crime, assisted the Sept. 11 investigations into terrorist financing and reinforced CI’s reputation for excellence in investigating financial crimes.
Matthews is a graduate of the New York University School of Law. He also earned a master’s degree in public administration from Princeton University and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College.
When Matthews begins work this fall, he will fill the role held by Bob Wenzel. Wenzel, the former Acting IRS Commissioner, has worked at the IRS since 1963 in a variety of roles and previously announced his retirement this fall.
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