The computer glitch affects taxpayers whose income was below the filing threshold, but e-filed to receive their economic stimulus check. To allow people to e-file their returns, IRS let these people enter $1 for their adjusted gross income.

But, instead of factoring in that dollar as gross income, the Service’s system recorded it as a $2 earned income credit for the e-filers.

And in a rare show of generosity, IRS isn’t asking for the money to be repaid.

That’s right. In an “innovative approach” to making Americans better aware of their tax responsibilities, IRS has joined the digital age and posted several public service announcements on the Web site.

Starring IRS Deputy Commissioner Linda Stiff, the PSAs are only around 30 seconds long each, but IRS figures that’s just enough time to whet some whistles and explain the subtle nuances of filing an income tax return.

Yeah, right.

According to IRS, it’s a great way to reach people who wouldn’t otherwise know how to file a return or apply for the economic stimulus rebate.

A quick note to IRS: The type of person who’d turn to YouTube for a primer on filing federal income tax returns probably won’t get be able to grasp the entire process after a 30-second PSA. After all, people who’ve been working in Finance for decades can’t always get a straight answer out of IRS — what are the odds a tax novice would fare better?

Then again, even IRS has to realize that the videos aren’t going to do much in terms of educating people on taxes — they only provide some general info, and then direct viewers to visit IRS’ exploration-friendly (read: impossible to navigate) Web site for more info.