You may want to adjust your payroll withholding if you owe any taxes last year, or received a refund which was higher than you expected. There’s still time for you to speak with a licensed tax professional about your withholdings and other ways to ease your tax burden.

These are the tips of America’s tax experts, The National Association of Enrolled Agents. licensed tax practitionersThose who are solely focused on taxation all year.

* Increase or max out retirement contributions. To reduce your taxable income, and to lower your tax bill, contribute more to your retirement plan (401(k).

* Gift-giving is another year-end tool. 2013’s annual gift tax exclusion is $14,000 (for married couples making split gifts, $28,000). Qualified individuals are also allowed to make a gift from IRA funds to charity, but only during the year.

* If you can itemize deductions, giving to charity may also reduce your tax bill. The crisp fall air can give you the motivation to clean your house and find items that are in good condition that you can donate to a qualified charity organization. Keep a record of all the items you have and their fair market values. The receipt will include the list. Keep it with your tax documentation for your records.

* Sometimes, a major life change is thrown your way, and you might not think of it as a tax deduction. If you found yourself looking for a new job, then agency fees, resumé expenses, career counseling costs and travel related to the job search may be deductible even if the job search was unsuccessful.

* On January 1, 2013, the new 3.8 percent net investment income (NII) surtax took effect. Congress passed the surtax in order to finance health care reform. It is applied to net investment income exceeding certain thresholds of higher-income individuals, estates, or trusts. The surtax is generally applied to passive income, but it can also be applied to capital gains from the disposition or sale of property. To minimize the surtax, new strategies should be considered. A new 0.9 percent Additional Medicare tax is available to those with higher incomes.

* Watch the news! As the year winds down, keep an eye out for developments in taxes. If Congress continues to follow past practice, late tax legislation may delay the start of tax-filing seasons. You won’t have to make any changes in your plan if it is too late.

Find out more and how to find an agent enrolled in the program. www.naea.org.