What is a capital loss deduction?

The capital loss deduction gives you a tax break for claiming your realized losses. In other words, reporting your losses to the IRS can shrink your tax bill. How much you can deduct depends on the size of your gains and losses. If you end up with a larger capital gain amount, you can subtract your losses from your gains.

How much capital gains & losses can I deduct?

The IRS will let you deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses (or up to $1,500 if you and your spouse are filing separate tax returns). If you have any leftover losses, you can carry the amount forward and claim it on a future tax return. Capital gains and losses fall into two categories: long-term gains and losses and short-term gains and losses.

Can capital losses be used to reduce your tax bill?

Realized capital losses from stocks can be used to reduce your tax bill. You can use capital losses to offset capital gains during a tax year, allowing you to remove some income from your tax return. You can use a capital loss to offset ordinary income up to $3,000 per year If you don’t have capital gains to offset the loss.