On Schedule E, line 22, after calculating the allowable rental real estate tax deduction for the tax year (using form 8582 and the associated worksheets), Am I allowed to deduct LESS THAN the allowable deduction and preserve the UNDEDUCTED portion for future years OR am I required to take the entire deduction allowed for the tax tear??
Thanks:

it depends; If you have a rental real estate loss from a passive activity , the amount of loss you can deduct may be limited by the passive activity loss rules. You may need to complete Form 8582 to figure the amount of loss, if any, to enter on line 22. You need to see the Instructions for Form 8582 to determine if your loss is limited. If your rental real estate loss is not from a passive activity or you meet the exception for certain rental real estate activities , you do not have to complete Form 8582. Enter the loss from line 21 on line 22. If you have an unallowed rental real estate loss from a prior year that after completing Form 8582 you can deduct this year, include that loss on line 22. If you have an unallowed rental real estate loss this year, you may carry forward the unclaimed loss next year

Thank you Wnhough: Perhaps I did not make myself clear in my posting. I have gone through form 8582 and the associated worksheets. I have say $10000 of ALLOWED deductible loss. But I only want to take say $6000 of loss and postpone the other $4000 to later years. So, can I just take $6000 on line 22 of Schedule E and indicate on worksheet 6 of 8582 what I have done next to the "Allowed Loss (c)" column. Thank you, again.

I don not hink so; Iaslongas the rental loss can be taken, it can't be deferred to a future tax year'later taxyears.