HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has entered the digital age with their own Twitter account at username @hmrcgovuk.
With the self assessment deadline looming on 31st January 2011, HMRC plans to use Twitter to engage with taxpayers by delivering news, publications, web content, consultations, speeches and publicity campaigns.
Taxpayers can send messages to HMRC using the @reply function on Twitter, and they assure us that all @replies will be read and passed on to the relevant people at HMRC.
It is important to note that they will not engage in direct messages or discuss anything that breaks the rules on taxpayer confidentiality.
If you get a Twitter message from HMRC saying you are due a tax rebate, it will be an attempt at fraud, in the same way that any emails claiming to be from HMRC are always fraudulent.
It is great to see HMRC entering the digital age with this use of Social Media and we look forward to following them on Twitter to see how they get on.
Remember that you can follow Informed Choice on Twitter @informedchoice.
As well as providing links to new blog posts, we also ask questions and share useful information. On Budget day, we use our Twitter account to provide a live commentary and analysis of the key financial planning issues.
Photo credit: Flickr/stevegarfield
