am i required to use capital loss carryovers every year, or can i skip some years, if my income was low?

Question

i am a u.s. citizen filing in the u.s.

Answer 1

Technically, you deduct up to $3,000 of your loss, but your carryover to the following year can include part of the allowed loss. Your allowed capital loss carryover is your total capital loss less the the lesser of :

(1) The capital loss you are allowed to deduct, and
(2) Your taxable income increased by your allowed capital loss deduction and the deduction for your personal exemptions.

So, if your AGI is less than your standard deduction, to can carry forward the entire loss.

Answer 2

You need to take the carryover even if there is little or no tax benefit, you can't skip years.

Answer 3

It's use it or lose it. If you don't have gains enough to use it some years, you still can't just skip that year.