Generally, to be able to write off worthless secur
Post# of 15187
in 2008, the Treasury adopted regulations saying you can establish the worthlessness of securities by abandoning them. The regulations do not explain the steps that would constitute abandonment, but it seems reasonably clear that gifting or donating securities is not the same as abandonment: you have to give up all rights to the shares, including the right to determine who would enjoy the benefit if they somehow recovered value.
http://www.fairmark.com/capgain/worthless-2.htm