If your losses exceed $3,000, then you have to look further. If you have short-term capital losses of $3,000 or more, then you'll take all $3,000 from the short-term category. Your carryover amount will, therefore, be any remaining short-term losses along with all your long-term losses. If you have less in short-term losses, then first use any short-term losses you do have, and then take long-term losses to take you up to the $3,000 total. Any remaining long-term losses in that situation are eligible to carry over.
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