Douglas Shulman

Douglas Shulman
IRS · Public domain · source
Name	Douglas Shulman
Birth date	1967
Birth place	Detroit, Michigan
Occupation	Business executive, public official
Known for	Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service (2008–2012)

Douglas Shulman

Douglas Shulman is an American business executive and former public official who served as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (2008–2012). He has held senior roles in investment banking, financial services, and nonprofit governance, and has been active in political fundraising and public policy organizations. Shulman’s career spans work at major financial institutions, federal service in tax administration, and board memberships with corporations and cultural institutions.

Early life and education

Shulman was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in a family with ties to Detroit, Michigan State University, and the Jewish Community Center network. He attended Harvard College where he studied history and social studies, and later earned a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. During his formative years he participated in programs associated with United States Senate internships, Brookings Institution seminars, and regional organizations such as the Michigan Republican Party and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Career at Morgan Stanley and private sector

Shulman began his financial career at Morgan Stanley in New York, joining offices linked to the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory community. He worked in areas intersecting with investment banking, capital markets, and strategic advisory services, collaborating with teams that engaged clients including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and multinational corporations such as General Electric, Ford Motor Company, and Microsoft. Before his public appointment he served as a senior executive at Brunswick Group and was involved with private equity and asset management firms tied to BlackRock, The Carlyle Group, and boutique advisory houses.

Commissioner of Internal Revenue (IRS)

In 2008 Shulman was nominated by President of the United States George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. His tenure encompassed major initiatives involving the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 implementation, tax administration modernization aligned with Treasury Department priorities, and outreach to constituencies including Small Business Administration, National Association of Tax Professionals, and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Shulman oversaw responses to legislation such as the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, coordinated with agencies including the Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration, and testified before committees of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate on enforcement, compliance, and technology. His administration faced scrutiny related to controversies involving tax-exempt organizations and interactions with advocacy groups such as American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Prosperity, and League of Women Voters. Shulman worked with commissioners and officials from international organizations including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Commission, and foreign revenue authorities like HM Revenue and Customs and the Canada Revenue Agency.

Post-IRS career and board roles

After leaving the IRS, Shulman returned to the private sector and served on corporate and nonprofit boards, including positions with Intuit, Mastercard, Bloomberg L.P., and cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution. He joined corporate governance councils and advisory boards associated with Nasdaq, NYSE Euronext, and financial services consortia involving Visa Inc. and American Express. Shulman also became involved with academic and policy bodies including the Harvard Kennedy School, the Kellogg School of Management, and think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institution.

Political activities and public service

Active in political fundraising and advocacy, Shulman has been associated with committees and organizations tied to Democratic National Committee, President Barack Obama, and various federal campaigns. He participated in fundraising efforts with figures such as Rahm Emanuel, Hillary Clinton, and John Podesta, and engaged with policy forums at the Aspen Institute, Clinton Foundation, and World Economic Forum. His public service roles have included advisory positions for the Treasury Department and consultancy for bipartisan initiatives involving former officials from the Office of Management and Budget and the Federal Reserve Board.

Personal life and honors

Shulman is married and has been active in civic life through involvement with institutions such as United Jewish Communities, Jewish Federations of North America, and local philanthropy in Washington, D.C. and New York City. He has received recognitions from professional groups including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and awards from civic organizations such as Common Cause and the Anti-Defamation League. He continues to participate in public panels and lectures at venues like Columbia University, New York University, and the Brookings Institution.

Category:American public servants Category:People from Detroit Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Wharton School alumni