Guides
One question per guide, answered with figures computed from the 2026 federal and state rules. New guides are added regularly.
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Winnings tax calculator
Federal and state tax on any win.
Lottery lump sum vs annuity
What each option leaves after tax.
The 2026 federal rules
Brackets, Form W-2G, 24% withholding and the 90% loss rule.
Tax by state
Every state's tax on a $1,000,000 prize.
A $500 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
Estimates for a single filer with no other income on a large lump-sum lottery prize, covering federal tax, withholding, and state tax.
A $200 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
See how federal withholding and state rules affect your net lottery winnings for a single filer in the current tax year.
A $50 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
Estimates show how federal withholding and state taxes reduce a large lump-sum lottery prize for a single filer.
A $100 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
Estimates for federal and state taxes on a large lottery lump sum for a single filer with no other income in the current tax year.
A $20 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
Estimate federal and state tax on a large lottery lump sum for a single filer with no other income in the current tax year.
A $10 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
Estimate federal and state tax on a large lottery lump sum for a single filer using current rules and specific state examples.
A $5 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
Estimate federal and state taxes on a large lump-sum lottery prize for a single filer in the current tax year.
A $2 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
Estimate federal and state tax on a large lottery lump sum for single filers using current rules and the provided table.
El Gordo after tax: what Spain's Christmas lottery prizes really pay
Spain taxes only the excess over the threshold on top lottery prizes, leaving smaller awards fully untaxed for winners.
A $1 million lottery prize after taxes: federal tax, withholding and six states
See how federal withholding and state taxes reduce a large lottery prize for single filers in this tax year.
Lottery tax in Europe: 20% in Spain, Italy and Portugal, nothing in Germany, France and Ireland
European lottery tax rules vary by country, with some withholding tax on prizes and others taxing only investment income.
Why a jackpot is taxed at close to 37%, but never quite all of it
Federal tax on large lottery prizes approaches but does not reach the top marginal rate due to progressive bracket structure.
A $100 million jackpot after tax: New York against Texas
Compare net winnings for a single filer in Texas and New York, noting city taxes and bracket effects on high incomes.
California: no state tax on a lottery prize, up to 13.3% on a casino win
California Lottery prizes face only federal tax, while casino winnings incur state tax, reducing the final kept amount.
The states that do not tax gambling and lottery winnings
Nine states do not tax gambling winnings, allowing single filers to retain more of their prize after federal deductions.
A $100 million jackpot: the lump sum or the annuity, after tax
Compare after-tax lump sums and annuities for large jackpots using current federal brackets and break-even return logic.
A $1 million lottery prize after taxes, state by state
See how state income taxes change what you keep from a large lottery prize in the current tax year, with estimates for various locations.
Lottery winnings tax: single or married filing jointly
Married filing jointly reduces federal tax on lottery winnings compared to single filing due to wider brackets and higher deductions.
Canadians and US casino wins: losses cut the 30% tax, and from 2026 only 90% of them count
Learn how US gambling losses reduce tax withheld from winnings for Canadian residents, including changes effective in future years.
Won in Las Vegas? Visitors from 25 countries can get the 30% casino tax back
Learn how foreign visitors claim back US casino withholding tax on winnings using treaty exemptions and specific IRS forms.
The 2026 rule that taxes a break-even gambling year
See how the new deduction limit affects federal tax on gambling winnings when losses equal gains for a single filer in the current year.
Why the 24% the lottery withholds is not the whole tax on a big prize
Learn why lottery withholding is a prepayment and how higher brackets affect your final tax bill for current rules.
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