IRS Opens a Tumblr Blog

The Internal Revenue Service has joined the popular microblogging service Tumblr, expanding the IRS’s array of social media networks.

People who want tax information now have another way of accessing helpful tax tips, videos, podcasts and more at the IRS’s new Tumblr page.

Tumblr is a microblogging service on which users can access and share text, photos, videos and other information from their browser, smartphone, tablet or desktop.

The IRS said Tuesday that it plans to use Tumblr to help share information about important programs to help taxpayers, such as late tax law changes, the Earned Income Tax Credit and Free File. The IRS’s Tumblr site will also make it easy for partner groups and others to share tax information from the IRS.

“Tax issues touch a wide range of people who use information in many different ways,” said IRS communications director Terry Lemons in a statement. “The IRS Tumblr site provides a new avenue for taxpayers and partner groups to get and share important tax information. The new Tumblr platform is part of a larger effort at the IRS to get information to taxpayers when and where they want it.”

The IRS’s growing social media presence already includes YouTube, where viewers can watch IRS channels for short, informative videos in English, Spanish, American Sign Language and other languages. The IRS YouTube channels contain more than 100 videos, which have been viewed more than 3.1 million times.

In addition, more than 61,000 people follow the IRS twitter feeds. The latest tax information is available at @IRSnews or @IRSenEspanol. @IRStaxpros covers news for tax professionals, @RecruitmentIRS provides updates for job seekers, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service has information available @YourVoiceAtIRS.

In addition, the IRS’s Return Preparer Office has a Facebook page for tax professionals, and the IRS has a separate Facebook page for the public. The IRS also has a LinkedIn page.

To protect taxpayer privacy, the IRS said it only uses social media tools to share public information, not to answer personal tax or account questions. It advises taxpayers to never post confidential information, such as a Social Security number, on social media sites.

For more IRS social media links, visit the IRS New Media page.

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