How to add a Date Expiration Condition on a field?

I have hardcoded text as well as a couple fields in my rtf template that have an expiration date associated to them.  In other words, the fields and text represent a discount percentage and that expires at the end of the year.

How do I write a condition on these fields and text so that they display for this year, but will not starting January 1?

<?if:RequestedDate<'2015-12-31'?>Discount<?end if?> does not work.  Can I go another route of using "if current_date() or sysdate()" is less than December 31, then display?  If so, what is the syntax for coding that into the template?  Thanks,