• Michigan State Tax On Gambling Winnings
• Missouri State Tax On Gambling Winnings
• Indiana State Tax On Gambling Winnings

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.

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?

New York’s top state tax rate is 8.82% as of 2020, but then you’ll have to add another percentage for the local tax. That works out to a hefty 12.7% of your winnings. Your tax bill would come out to almost $127,000 on $1 million in winnings, and about $12.7 million if you won a $100 million lottery. AGI includes gambling winnings but does not include gambling losses. Thus, a taxpayer who has (say) $100,000 of gambling winnings and $100,000 of gambling losses will owe state income tax on the phantom gambling winnings. (Michigan does exempt the first $300 of gambling winnings from state income tax.) 2.

Indiana’s legislature has been ramping up an effort to legalize sports gambling in the state in recent weeks. Like most states considering sports betting bills, Indiana is anticipating a verdict in the New Jersey sports betting case in the US Supreme Court. A victory for New Jersey could allow for legalization of sports gambling in other states. For many of us, gambling means buying the occasional lottery ticket on the way home from work, but the Internal Revenue Service says that casual gambling also includes raffles, casino games, poker, sports betting—and, yes, even fantasy football. When you win, your winnings are taxable income, subject to its own tax rules.

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.

Michigan State Tax On Gambling Winnings

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?

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:

Sec. 8.2. (a) Each person in Indiana who is required under the Internal Revenue Code to withhold federal tax from winnings shall deduct and retain adjusted gross income

Missouri State Tax On Gambling Winnings

tax at the time and in the amount described in withholding instructions issued by the department.

(b) In addition to amounts withheld under subsection (a), every person engaged in a gambling operation (as defined in IC 4-33-2-10) or a gambling game (as defined in IC 4-35-2-5) and making a payment in the course of the gambling operation (as defined in IC 4-33-2-10) or a gambling game (as defined in IC 4-35-2-5) of:

Terms Used In Indiana Code 6-3-4-8.2

• adjusted gross income: shall mean the following:

  (a) In the case of all individuals, 'adjusted gross income' (as defined in Section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code), modified as follows:

  Indiana Code 6-3-1-3.5

• Month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5

(1) winnings (not reduced by the wager) valued at one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) or more from slot machine play; or

(2) winnings (reduced by the wager) valued at one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) or more from a keno game;

shall deduct and retain adjusted gross income tax at the time and in the amount described in withholding instructions issued by the department. The department’s instructions must provide that amounts withheld shall be paid to the department on the twenty-fourth calendar day of each month. Any taxes collected during the month but after the day on which the taxes are required to be paid shall be paid to the department at the same time the following month’s taxes are due. Slot machine and keno winnings from a gambling operation (as defined in IC 4-33-2-10) or a gambling game (as defined in IC 4-35-2-5) that are reportable for federal income tax purposes shall be treated as subject to withholding under this section, even if federal tax withholding is not required.

(c) The adjusted gross income tax due on prize money or prizes:

Indiana State Tax On Gambling Winnings

(1) received from a winning lottery ticket purchased under IC 4-30; and

(2) exceeding one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) in value;

shall be deducted and retained at the time and in the amount described in withholding instructions issued by the department, even if federal withholding is not required.

(d) In addition to the amounts withheld under subsection (a), a qualified organization (as defined in IC 4-32.3-2-31(a)) that awards a prize under IC 4-32.3 exceeding one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200) in value shall deduct and retain adjusted gross income tax at the time and in the amount described in withholding instructions issued by the department. The department’s instructions must provide that amounts withheld shall be paid to the department before the close of the business day following the day the winnings are paid, actually or constructively.

As added by P.L.28-1997, SEC.16. Amended by P.L.192-2002(ss), SEC.82; P.L.91-2006, SEC.8; P.L.182-2009(ss), SEC.200; P.L.212-2018(ss), SEC.24; P.L.58-2019, SEC.22.