IRS Adds Tumblr to Its List of Social Media Platforms

The Internal Revenue Service has added Tumblr to its list of social media platforms. People who want tax information now have another way of accessing helpful tax tips, videos, podcasts and more at tumblr.  Tumblr is a microblogging platform where users access and share text, photos, videos and other information from their browser, smartphone, tablet or desktop.

The IRS 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 Tumbler site also makes 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. The IRS Tumblr site provides a new avenue for taxpayers and partner groups to get and share important tax information,” said Terry Lemons, IRS Communications Director. “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’ 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 have 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.

To protect taxpayer privacy, the IRS 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, like a Social Security number, on social media sites.