Currently, Pennsylvania’s personal income tax is a flat tax rate of 3.07% which applies to all taxable income, including gambling and lottery winnings. PA has the lowest rate of all states with a flat tax. The US uses a flat 25% tax rate on all gambling winnings. Taxes are applied to all gambling, including sweepstakes and other prizes. When you hit a taxable win in a physical casino, you’ll get a.

No doubt about it, winning the lottery dramatically changes a person’s life. A financial windfall of that magnitude quickly grants you a level of financial freedom you probably have trouble imagining.

Casino Winnings Tax Rate

But becoming a Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot winner doesn’t change everything. If you are the lucky winner, you still have to worry about bills and taxes. This is when a lottery tax calculator comes handy.

How are lottery winnings taxed under federal and state?

Lottery winnings are considered ordinary taxable income for both federal and state tax purposes. That means your winnings are taxed the same as your wages or salary. And you must report the entire amount you receive each year on your tax return.

For example, let’s say you elected to receive your lottery winnings in the form of annuity payments and received $50,000 in 2019. You must report that money as income on your 2019 tax return. The same is true, however, if you take a lump-sum payout in 2019. You must report that entire amount as well. For this, a tax calculator is an essential tool.

Note: Before you receive one dollar, the IRS automatically takes 25 percent of your winnings as tax money. You’re expected to pay the rest of your tax bill on that prize money when you file your return.

What is the tax rate for lottery winnings?

When it comes to federal taxes, lottery winnings are taxed according to the federal tax brackets. Therefore, you won’t pay the same tax rate on the entire amount. The tax brackets are progressive, which means portions of your winnings are taxed at different rates. Depending on the number of your winnings, your federal tax rate could be as high as 37 percent as per the lottery tax calculation.

State and local tax rates vary by location. Some states don’t impose an income tax while others withhold over 15 percent. Also, some states have withholding rates for non-residents, meaning even if you don’t live there, you still have to pay taxes to that state.

Do I have to pay state taxes on lottery winnings if I don’t live in the state where I bought the ticket?

Most states don’t withhold taxes when the winner doesn’t reside there. In fact, of the 43 states that participate in multistate lotteries, only two withhold taxes from nonresidents. Arizona and Maryland both tax the winnings of people who live out-of-state.

Can I change the amount of tax the lottery withholds?

You don’t have a choice on how much state or federal tax is withheld from your winnings. The only piece you can control is how much money you save to cover any extra money you may owe. For this, you can use a federal tax calculator.

Do lottery winnings count as earned income for Social Security purposes?

Lottery winnings are not considered earned income, no matter how much work it was purchasing your tickets. Therefore, they do not affect your Social Security benefits.

Does winning the lottery affect my tax bracket?

Winning the lottery can affect your tax bracket in a big way. An average family’s top federal tax rate could go from 22 percent to 37 percent. But remember, if that happens, you likely won’t pay the top rate on all of your money.

That is unless your regular household income already places you in the top tax bracket prior to winning. In that case, all of it is taxed at 37 percent. This can be calculated using a tax calculator. Lottery winnings are combined with the rest of your taxable income for the year, meaning that money is not taxed separately.

What are the benefits of taking a lump sum payment versus annuity payments?

Tax Rate On Slot Machine Casino Winnings

If you take a lump sum, you have more control over your money right now. You can choose to invest it into a retirement account or other stock option to generate a return. You could also use it to buy or expand a business.

Several financial advisors recommend taking the lump sum because you typically receive a better return on investing lottery winnings in higher-return assets, like stocks. If you elect annuity payments, however, you can take advantage of your tax deductions each year with the help of lottery tax calculator and a lower tax bracket to reduce your tax bill.

The decision for which option is better is complex. It all depends on the size of the lottery winnings, your current and projected income tax rates, where you reside, and the potential rate of return on any investments. If you win big, it’s in your best interest to work with a financial advisor to determine what’s right for you. However, you can also determine the taxes using a federal tax calculator.

Are you a lucky winner? Determine what you owe in taxes with this Lottery Tax Calculator.

More to explore:

The glittering lights and ringing bells of the casino. The dream of winning the lottery. Gambling can be a lot of fun for most people, and when your number finally comes up -- well, isn't that the whole point?

Of course, we all want to go home big winners with a wad of cash in our pockets. However, once you win, the IRS does, too. In fact, they expect and require you to report your gambling winnings. Gambling winnings (which the IRS refers to as 'income') can include:

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• Lotteries
• Raffles
• Horse/dog races
• Noncash prizes -- like cars, trips or houses

What you need to report depends on how much you win, what type of gambling you were doing, and the ratio of your winnings to your wager.

Typically, you'll receive paperwork from the casino (or other source of your payout) to complete if you win a certain amount. You must provide your Social Security number and fill out IRS Form W-2G. This form is called 'Certain Gambling Winnings,' and allows you to report your winnings as income to Uncle Sam. You'll receive that paperwork if you win:

• $600 or more from the state lottery, horse or dog races, jai alai or other wagering (but only if the winnings are 300 times the original wager)
• $1,200 or more at a slot machine or bingo
• $1,500 or more on keno (minus the amount you spent on tickets for the winning game)
• $5,000 or more in poker tournaments

Typically in a winner situation of $5,000 or more (no matter what the game), the payee will not only require you to fill out the above-mentioned forms, but will also take 25 percent of your winnings up front to give directly to Uncle Sam [source: Bell]. If you refuse to fill out the form or provide your Social Security number, most establishments will take 28 percent of your winnings, in accordance with federal law [source: IRS].

You don't have to fill out the W2-G form for winnings on table games, including craps, blackjack, pai gow, baccarat and roulette. However, you still have to report those winnings when you file your regular income tax in April. On form 1040, on the 'Other Income' line (line 21) you report any other winnings, like prize or award money.

Here's where things can get a little more complicated. Just as you report your winnings to the IRS, you can also report your losses. On line 28 of form 1040, 'Other Miscellaneous Deductions,' if you have any gambling losses, note them there. However, your losses can't exceed your winnings. It's also important to note that you'll only want to do this if you're already itemizing your deductions and will end up deducting more than the standard [source: IRS]

All of this information illustrates why it's crucial to keep detailed records of your gambling -- both wins and losses -- especially if you do it often . Signing up for a player's card at a casino is a great idea, because the casino keeps an electronic record for you to easily access [source: Taxpertise].

The takeaway here is that the IRS treats any gambling or contest winnings as income. You should report all of it, even if the casino or other payee doesn't hand you a tax form to fill out. State tax laws apply too so be sure to check with your state's department of revenue to determine your liability [source: Ritchie].

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Sources

• Bell, Kay. 'Reporting gambling winnings.' Bankrate. Feb. 3, 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.bankrate.com/finance/money-guides/reporting-gambling-winnings.aspx
• IRS. 'Gambling Winnings Are Always Taxable Income.' Aug. 19, 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.irs.gov/uac/Gambling-Winnings-Are-Always-Taxable-Income
• IRS. 'Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754.' 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2g.pdf
• Ritchie, Josh. 'How Are Gambling Winnings Taxed?' TurboTax Blog. March 30, 2012. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/2012/03/30/how-are-gambling-winnings-taxed/
• Roche, Yolanda S., E.A. and Roche, Roger C., E.A. 'The Taxman Cometh.' Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2014. (Sept. 22, 2014) http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/features/taxlaws.html
• Taxpertise. 'Uncle Sam Wants His Cut on Your Gambling Winnings.' FOXBusiness. Sept. 20, 2013. (Oct. 30, 2014) http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/09/19/uncle-sam-wants-his-cut-on-your-gambling-winnings/