From aardvark to zyzzyva, the IRS has a publication that covers it — free for the asking. The IRS has numerous publications on a variety of tax-related topics available by phone, fax, or the Internet.

Are you a student seeking knowledge on the lifetime learning credit? Check out Publication 970. Are you a first-time home buyer? Information on potential deductions is housed in Publication 530.

No matter what you´re looking for, you can find it by using one of these easy steps:

• Access the IRS Web site’s Forms and Publications page to find what you need. Forms and publications are listed by number and then title. And there’s a search feature you can use if you know the topic but not the number of the form or publication.
• Read Publication 910, Guide to Free Tax Services, to identify the many IRS tax materials and services available to you, and how, when and where to get them. Internet, telephone and fax access to tax materials, filing options, tax publications, tax education and assistance programs, and tax tips are all covered in this guide.
• If you know the name or number of the form or publication you need, call the toll-free Forms and Publications telephone line at 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) to place your order.
• Dial 703-368-9694 (not a toll-free call) from a fax machine to get a faxed index of frequently requested tax forms. Follow the voice prompts and key in your response. You may order up to three items in a single call. Your order will be faxed back to you through your fax machine.

If you still can´t find the information you need, call the IRS toll-free customer service line at 1-800-829-1040.

Oh, and if you plunged into the aardvark breeding business just before the bottom dropped out, or if zyzzyva weevils munched your tropical plant business into oblivion, you can read up on bankruptcy in Publication 908.