George Orwell, Pennsylvania tax collector

May 4, 2010

Hey, Pennsylvanians, if you owe back taxes the state wants to make sure you know that it knows all about you.

It's May 2010, but the Keystone State revenue office has been airing this "1984" style television ad promoting its tax amnesty program that runs through June 18.

I don't know how many folks the commercial has prompted to participate in the amnesty, but judging from reaction I'm reading online, it has succeeded in creeping people out.

Yes, we know that based on our past tax returns, various government-issued licenses we hold and even our credit records, Uncle Sam and his state cousins can pretty easily track us down.

And while this type of implicit threat might get a few more folks to get their unpaid taxes in order, it also perpetuates the bad, or at least uncomfortable, perception most folks have of tax officials.

What do you think? Good ad? Bad ad? Scary? Silly? Do you think it'll be effective in getting more people to participate in Pennsylvania's amnesty?

Regardless of your take on the state's amnesty marketing program, if you live in Pennsylvania — or in the city of Philadelphia which is holding its own tax amnesty period right now, too — you might want to think about paying up while you can get a break on the penalties and interest associated with your tax debt.

And if there really is a tax collector named George Orwell, in Pennsylvania or elsewhere, drop me a note. I'd love to chat!

Related posts:

Want to tell your friends about this
blog post? Click the Tweet
This or Digg This buttons below or use the
Share
This icon to spread the word via e-mail,
Facebook and other popular applications. Thanks!

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic.

Hello Tax Season 2026

Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2025 tax return? I know, too early to ask. But Tax Day 2026 will be here before we realize it. The Internal Revenue Service deadline to file and pay any tax we owe is the regular April 15 date this year. It’s also Tax Day for most of the states that collect income taxes from their residents, which is most of the states! If that seems too far away right now, don’t worry. As is the case every tax season, the ol’ blog’s tips and other tax reminders should help all of us meet our state and federal responsibilities. Procrastinators also will want to keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It tracks how much time we have until April’s Tax Day, just in case we put off our annual tax task until the absolutely final hours and decide we need to instead get an extension request into the IRS by that date. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Credits/Deductions

Disasters

Family

Filing and Paying Taxes

Politics/Laws

Refunds

State Taxes

Tax Brackets/Inflation

Tax Tips

Comments

Kelly

16 years ago Reply

It’s a terrible ad – and completely uncalled for tactics. I blogged this same issue… I think amnesty is terrific but there’s no need to scare people (especially those already in compliance) in order to do so. Sad and pathetic.

Leave your comment

George Orwell, Pennsylvania tax collector

Kelly