Maybe he can still carryover the full amount? Does this apply if you have zero AGI (well he would if he took the -3,000 each year)? If you have a negative AGI or negative taxable income read Pub 550 page 69 on Figuring your Carryover. So even though it shows it on 1040 line 13 it doesn't reduce the carryover to the next year.
<a href="
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p550.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p550.pdf</a>
