With the end of the year approaching, now's the time to make smart moves to cut your tax bill next April. One key to paying less tax is making sure you get all the deductions you're entitled to. But to make the most of your deductions, it pays to know some hidden tips.

In the following video, Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool's director of investment planning, runs through three ways you can boost your deductions and pay less tax. Dan notes that the most popular deduction comes from contributing to an IRA, which gives you until April 15 to get a write-off on your 2013 tax return. In addition, Dan suggests other items such as making deductible donations to charity and prepaying other deductible items like taxes. Be sure to watch for tips that explain how Visa (V -0.48%) and MasterCard (MA -1.19%) can help make your tax planning easier, and listen as Dan goes through some traps concerning the alternative minimum tax that you need to know.