Need a tax form? Have a question about changes to tax law? Want to find the nearest IRS taxpayer assistance center? Now anyone with a personal computer and Internet access can point and click their way to access tax information at www.irs.gov.

You should consult your tax preparer for answers to your questions about your personal situation. But for quick reference, check out the IRS Web site.

The IRS Web site at IRS.gov offers a wealth of resources for making tax time, well, a little less taxing. A user-friendly format allows even novice Web surfers to quickly find the information they need. With the help of the site’s interactive features, you can calculate proper withholding amounts, learn if the interest you pay is fully deductible or determine whether you’re eligible to claim the child and dependent care credit.

The site also provides instructions for obtaining copies of prior-year tax returns and has a handy tax event calendar.

Millions of taxpayers visited the IRS site in 2002, downloading nearly 300 million forms, publications and a variety of topic-oriented tax information. With the click of a mouse you can access:

• tax forms, instructions, and publications
• the latest tax information and tax law changes
• tax tables and rate schedules
• Publication 17, "Your Federal Income Tax"
• all TeleTax topics
• answers to the most frequently asked tax questions
• a library of tax regulations
• the weekly Internal Revenue Bulletin, which contains all the latest revenue rulings, revenue procedures, notices, announcements, proposed regulations and final regulations

In addition, the IRS Web site offers information on the many benefits of electronic filing. More than 46 million taxpayers e-filed their returns in 2002. They learned that e-file is accurate, convenient and cuts the waiting time for refunds.

Note: These tips are provided to help trigger ideas on ways to minimize your tax burden, not as a substitute for professional advice. There is no "one-size-fits-all" answer - each taxpayer's situation is different. You should contact your tax preparer to determine together how this may affect your unique situation.