Using Long Term Carryover partially for qualifying for ACA

[subodh66]

I have significant realized long term carryover losses (say $100k). Each year, I only need $30k cash for my expenses - including ACA premiums. So, next year my plan is to sell $30k in stocks I hold (with the long term cost basis of $10k).

If so, in 2023, since my long term gain ($20k) will be LOWER than the carryover amount  ($100k), my MAGI will be $0. That will force me to go for Medicaid and I can't use ACA.

One easy answer is that I should sell stocks of worth more than $100k + ACA qualifying minimum amount in 2023. However, stock market is down. So, I do not want to such a large chunk of stocks in 2023. 

Another easy answer is that I should earn income in 2023 and qualify for ACA. Unfortunately, I am not able to find a job that is meeting my needs due to my personal situation.

Anyone else is in this situation? IF so, how are you solving this issue?

A slightly complicated but useful solution in this situation, is to use the carryover loss only partially. So, say my state's Medicaid limit is $15k, and if I can only use $4k of my carryover losses in 2023, then for 2023 I can show my MAGI as 20k - 4k = 16k and escape Medicaid (15+k), qualify for ACA, and carryover $96k for the next year.

I did a trial run for this in TurboTax 2021, but I couldn't figure out how to apply capital loss carryover but only partially. I reviewed the paper forms. Even there the instructions don't seem to allow partial application of carryover losses. In other words, the form and TurboTax both seem to require filer to extinguish the losses as early as possible, leaving no option.

Is my understanding correct? Or am I missing some critical step here?

[NCperson]

@subodh66 -

you can not simply sell $30k of stocks with a cost basis of $10k and then decide not to net the gain against the loss carryfoward.  That would mean you wouldn't pay any tax on the gain (because your income was a 0% capital gains rate) and still preserve all the loss carry forwards for a future year.  The IRS is too smart for that.  You have to consume the loss carryforward with the gain so you don't achieve that advantage for the future. 

[rjs]

You don't get to choose when you use a capital loss carryover or how much you use in a particular year. There are fixed rules about how it gets used. The calculations have to be done as specified in the tax laws. There are no options for how it is done, and you cannot manipulate it. The reason you can't find any way to apply it partially is that you are not allowed to do that.

[subodh66]

Thank you to both of above replies. 

Glad I got this out of my way!