New Deadline for Tax-Free Giving Stalls in Congress but Supporters Fight On

The time-honored practice of sneaking charitable donations in under the wire during the waning days of December is safe for another year. Despite the efforts of some nonprofit leadership organizations, Congress is unlikely to pass a measure before it adjourns that would extend the deadline for claiming a charitable deduction until tax day, April 15.

For now, lawmakers are working on legislation that would extend for a year several existing tax provisions that have expired or will soon expire. Many of those provisions are designed to encourage charitable giving.