Japan: tax on lottery prizes
Lottery prizes are not taxed in Japan: a ¥100,000,000 Loto 6 first prize is paid in full, and it does not go on a tax return. Only what the money earns afterwards is taxed.
How the tax works
Article 13 of the Act on Prize Tickets exempts lottery winnings from income tax: the prize is paid in full and not declared. Giving part of it to family or friends is a gift, and gift tax may apply above the basic deduction of JPY 1,100,000 a year; friends who bought a ticket together can share the prize in proportion to what each paid without gift tax.
Games covered: Takarakuji: Jumbo lotteries, Loto 6, Loto 7, Mini Loto, Numbers.
Questions
Do you pay tax on lottery winnings in Japan?
No. The prize is paid in full and is not declared as income. Interest, dividends and other income the money earns once invested are taxed under the normal rules.
Is anything taxed after a big win?
What the money earns, and in some cases gifts made from it. Talk to a tax adviser before investing or giving away a large prize.
Rules checked on 29.09.2026; compare other countries or see the United States calculator. Estimates, not tax advice.
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