Many people only think about their taxes when April comes around each year. But long before the filing deadline, smart taxpayers look at ways to reduce how much they have to pay to Uncle Sam. If you're unhappy with how big your tax bill was this year, focusing on three simple areas of tax planning can put you in a much better position to pay as little as legally possible to the IRS next year.Too many people scurry to find ways to reduce their taxes at the last minute.