Wait. Do you still own the stocks? Or did you sell them years ago? You only claim the loss when you actually sell them or they go to zero and are worthless. If you sold or sell them you can deduct up to 3,000 (1,500 MFS) per year. The rest of the loss you have to carry over each year until it is used up. You can't skip a year. Even if you don't report it on your return you have to reduce it by the 3,000 (1,500 MFS) for each year when you carry it over to next year. You can't choose when to use it.
So if you sold it 8 years ago you have to reduce the loss carryover by 24,000 (3,000x8) on your 2023 return.
