Early preparation can ease 2013 tax burden.

Holiday season has only just begun, and the last thing taxpayers are probably thinking about is tax season. But anyone hoping to position themselves well for an interesting tax year should probably give it a little brainpower.

With taxes as a moving target, preparation is all about planning. Here are some things  taxpayers can do right now to get ready for what's ahead and possibly save money.

Get organized. Start gathering receipts and other items needed to support your 2013 returns. Day care receipts, health expenses and pay stubs all act as supporting documents for your returns.

Review the past. Sit with your old tax returns and current pay stubs and do an estimated tax return for 2013. If you can't do it yourself, spend about $50 to have a professional do it for you. The objective is to get an early idea of your tax liability so you can make proper adjustments.

Spend money to save money.  Actions such as increasing your 401(k) payments in these next few months or allocating money next year to medical reimbursement or dependent care accounts require you to pay pre-tax money, but they also lower your adjusted gross income, or AGI. The lower your AGI, the less you owe the government. You may even be able to do something as simple as adjust the withholding on your last few paychecks of the year to help bring your tax payments in line with your tax liability.

Be generous. Charitable donations can help you reduce taxes owed as long as you itemize your return. But be warned: A few $25 donations and a couple of Goodwill receipts are probably not going to help you much.

Know the law and act accordingly. It helps to be aware of tax law changes in any given year. In 2013, for example, higher-income individuals — singles with income of $200,000 or more or couples filing jointly with income of $250,000 or more — will pay more taxes.

The minimum for medical expense deductions for anyone under 65 increases from 7.5 percent to 10 percent of income, which means fewer people will qualify. In addition, the forgiveness debt on home foreclosures, sales tax deduction, private mortgage insurance deduction, teacher's classroom supplies deduction, tuition and fees deduction, and residential energy tax credit are only good for 2013. Taking action in these areas before the end of the year will put you in a position to take those deductions.

Consider the power of three. There is nothing wrong with doing your own taxes, but every three years it's a good idea to have an enrolled agent — a professional qualified to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service — complete or review your work. That way, if you missed something, you will still have time to file an amended return.