Especially Popular

The Internal Revenue Service now e-mails Tax Tips to anyone who wants to be put on the list. Its latest missive, Get Connected to the IRS With Social Media, looks like it will be especially popular:

IRS2Go. IRS's free mobile app gives you your refund status, tax news updates, IRS You Tube videos and also lets you request your tax records. IRS2Go is available for the iPhone, iTouch or Android mobile devices.

YouTube. IRS offers video tax tips on a variety of topics in English, Spanish and American Sign Language.

Twitter. Tweets from @IRSnews provide tax-related announcements and daily tax tips. Tweets from @IRStaxpros offer news and guidance for tax professionals. Tweets from @IRSenEspanol have news and information in Spanish, and @RecruitmentIRS provides updates for job seekers.

Podcasts IRS has short audio recordings that offer one tax-related topic per podcast. They are available on iTunes or through the Multimedia Center. Transcripts of the Podcasts are also available.

Tumblr. IRS Tumblr is a microblogging platform where users can access IRS tax tips, videos, and podcasts. The IRS uses Tumblr to share information about important programs. Tumblr can be accessed from your browser, smartphone, tablet or desktop.

Who wouldn't want to "friend" the entity that knows everything about them financially and medically (the IRS is gearing up to audit compliance with Obamacare)? If the masses not only accept but embrace the inevitable, they will be much happier.

O cruel, needless misunderstanding! O stubborn, self-willed exile from the loving breast! Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother. -- Orwell, 1984

© 2013 Stephen Yuen