I cannot speak directly to federal or state legislation in the USA, but it is a generally accepted principle of law in common law countries that it is the moment of taking actual possession of the gift that determines the tax year in which a tax deduction occurs. Indeed, one of the things auditors look for, in auditing financial transactions of registered charities is any back-dating of deductions. I would be MOST surprised if the tax law situation were much different in the US of A. Harry Needham (inactive) Certified Fraud Examiner Canadian War Museum