Whether you choose to take your winnings as a lump sum at once or, as an annuity, spread out over 30 years, the IRS will shave off 24 percent of your winnings before it even gets to you.
For the $405 million Mega Millions jackpot, the immediate cash option is $235 million. For the $229 million Powerball jackpot, it’s $134.3 million.
The 24 percent federal tax withholding would reduce Mega Millions’ cash option by about $56.4 million to $178.6 million, and Powerball’s by $32.2 million to $102.1 million. You also should anticipate owing more to Uncle Sam at tax time.
More from FA Playbook:
How to maximize your tax benefits from medical expenses this year
Bitcoin investors beware: The IRS wants its piece of the action
What to watch out for on the cannabis investing bandwagon
On top of the IRS withholding, you’ll pay state taxes on the money unless you live where lottery wins are untaxed. For states that take a piece (most do), the rate ranges from a high of 8.82 percent in New York to a low of 2.9 percent in North Dakota, according to lottery site USAMega.com.
If you suddenly become one of the wealthiest people in the country, minimizing your tax burden will likely become one of your financial priorities. Make sure that when you turn to experts for help, your team includes a tax advisor and financial planner, along with an attorney experienced in helping lottery winners (this should be your first call).
Be the first to comment