Tax season may still be months away, but now is the time to get ahead.

“If you wait until Jan. 1 to start your tax planning, there's really not a lot you can do. You can't go back in time,” said Mark Steber, chief tax officer for Jackson Hewitt, emphasizing the importance of early preparation.

Steber advises that now is the perfect time for a “tax check-in.” Most workers have earned nearly all of their income for the year, but they still have a few paychecks left to make adjustments, which could lower next spring's tax bill.

“Look at your refund or your balance due last year. If that wasn't like you liked, then go in and adjust your withholding,” he said.

Check your health and retirement accounts

One key move is to maximize contributions to a health savings account. For 2025, the IRS

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