* Resignation of current chief of tax agency was expected
* Steven Miller, an IRS veteran, to be acting chief
(Adds Geithner comment, background)
Oct 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Internal Revenue Service said on Wednesday that Steven Miller will become acting head of the tax agency after Doug Shulman, the present commissioner, steps down on Nov. 9.
Shulman had been expected to resign at the end of his term in early November.
Miller, IRS deputy commissioner for services and enforcement since September 2009, is a 25-year veteran of the agency.
The commissioner's post is a presidential appointment subject to Senate confirmation.
Shulman, a Democrat appointed to the post under Republican President George W. Bush, has served since March 2008. The IRS did not provide details about Shulman's next career move.
Before Shulman was confirmed by the Senate at the start of his term, the IRS was led by two acting commissioners over a transition period of more than nine months.
The previous Senate-confirmed commissioner was Mark Everson, who stepped down in May 2007.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner praised Miller as a "dedicated career public servant." The Treasury Department oversees the IRS.
Treasury and IRS did not say when a nominee for commissioner would be announced.
(Reporting by Patrick Temple-West; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh, Sandra Maler and Phil Berlowitz)
((kevin.drawbaugh@thomsonreuters.com)(202-898-8314))
Keywords: USA TAX/COMMISSIONER