Series 6: 4.3.7. Charitable Donations Of Securities

4.3.7.  Charitable Donations of Securities

When an individual decides to donate securities to a qualified charity, the donor can deduct the fair market value of the securities (as of the date of donation) from their taxable income for that year, as long as the securities have been held for over a year. If the securities have been held for less than a year, the individual can deduct the cost of the securities rather than the fair market value.