The Virginia Department of Taxation introduced a new website this week designed to give taxpayers a quicker, more intuitive path to the information they need.

The site – http://www.tax.virginia.gov – features a menu-based design that guides users to what they need with a minimum of mouse clicks. Forms have been organized in a more navigable layout with additional information about each one. Improvements have been made to the search function, and important announcements and other information are now featured in a large slideshow in the center of the home page.

The major website overhaul was in response primarily to comments and suggestions received from taxpayers in surveys on the old site, along with feedback from focus groups and department employees.

“Our customers were a little frustrated and I didn’t blame them,” said Tax Commissioner Craig M. Burns. “The site needed upgrading anyway and the taxpayers who took the time to respond to surveys helped us define what the new site should look like. We now have a full-time webmaster to keep the new site current and up to the standards our customers demand.”

More taxpayers than ever, both individuals and businesses, are doing their tax-related transactions online through the department’s website, according to officials.

Last year the site received more than nine million electronic transactions, including returns filed, payments made and businesses registered – an increase of nearly 10 percent from the previous year.

All of the content on the new site has been reviewed and, in many cases, rewritten to make it easier to understand. The new site is also compatible with most browsers and electronic devices, such as mobile phones and tablets.