Pa Tax Gambling Winnings

Posted on 4/12/2022 admin

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. State taxes on sports wagering are calculated on a casino's gross winnings or 'hold' from betting – not on the total amount wagered by bettors. According to Pennsylvania law, the 36 percent tax is assessed on 'gross sports gaming revenue,' which is defined as the amount of money placed in bets minus the cash that is paid back to winners.

Players dream of hitting a big jackpot when they play the slots. When that day comes for you, you'll have questions about the taxes you must pay on the winnings.

Hand Pay Jackpots

When you hit the winning combination of symbols for a large jackpot, your slot machine locks up. Depending on the machine, the lights on top of the machine may come on and start flashing, music may play or bells ring. A slot attendant arrives promptly to see what you have won.

On jackpots smaller than $5,000, an attendant verifies that you hit the jackpot and then assists you in claiming your money at the cashier's cage. In the case of a large or progressive jackpot, the casino may have technicians come and check the machine to certify that it was functioning properly when the jackpot hit. If you hit one of the wide-area progressive machines such as MegaBucks, the slot company that operates the game comes out and verifies that machine before giving you a check.

When you hit a jackpot, you have the option of taking your winnings in cash or check. Usually, large amounts are paid by check. In the case of the MegaBucks or similar multi-million dollar jackpots, you receive a check for the partial amount, and then you have 90 days to decide if you want to be paid a lump sum or an annual annuity on the balance. If you select the lump sum option, you receive only a percentage of your actual winnings. For example, the full winnings of one multi-million slot jackpot is paid in 25 annual installments, or you can take a lump sum of 60 percent of the winnings.

IRS Withholding

All casino winnings are subject to federal taxes. However, the IRS only requires the casinos to report wins over $1,200 on slots and video poker machines or other games such as keno, lottery or horse racing. When you have a win equal to or greater than $1200, you are issued a W-2G form. This form lists your name, address and Social Security number. The casinos are not required to take out withholding tax on jackpots under $5,000 as long you supply your Social Security number. If you don’t provide your Social Security number, the casinos withhold 28 percent on small jackpots.

You can request a specific amount of withholding tax to be taken out of any jackpot you win. Some players like to do this to avoid a big tax payment in April when they file their income tax returns. The additional withholding may not be necessary if you keep a log book. The law allows you to deduct gambling losses up to the amount of your winnings. You can only do this if you have documentation of your losses. Keeping a diary or log book is the way to do this.

Proper Identification

Casinos can refuse to pay you until you produce proper identification—a photo ID such as a driver’s license, military ID or passport.

If you don’t produce an ID, you are photographed and the casino holds your winnings until you come back with proper ID. For this reason, you should always carry a valid form of identification with you when you visit the casino.

When the casino checks your identification, it also checks your age to make sure you are legally old enough to play. The minimum age for gambling varies from state to state, but under-age gamblers are not be paid if they hit a jackpot. This is the law in all jurisdictions, and it has been upheld in court.

Plan Ahead

Before you start playing your favorite slot machine you should have a plan for the day you hit a jackpot. Players become excited when they hit the big one, and this may affect the decisions you make about your winnings. It is helpful if you know ahead of time how much withholding you want taken out or whether you want a check for all or some of the amount.

IP 2011(27)

Connecticut Income Tax Treatment of Gambling Winnings Other Than State Lottery Winnings

Purpose: This Informational Publication answers frequently-asked questions about the Connecticut income tax treatment of gambling winnings other than lottery winnings from state-conducted lotteries (state lottery winnings). Frequently-asked questions about state lottery winnings are answered in Informational Publication 2011(28), Connecticut Income Tax Treatment of State Lottery Winnings Received by Residents and Nonresidents of Connecticut.

Effective Date: Upon issuance.

Statutory Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§12-700 to 12-746.

Definitions:

DRS means the Department of Revenue Services.

IRS means the Internal Revenue Service.

Gambling winnings means and includes proceeds from a wager placed in a sweepstakes; wagering pool or lottery (other than state-conducted lottery); payments made to winners of poker tournaments on or after March 4, 2008; or proceeds from a wagering transaction (including a wagering transaction in a casino, a parimutuel pool with respect to horse races, dog races, or jai alai). Gambling winnings also include door prizes, contest prizes, and prizes from raffles or similar drawings. Gambling winnings do not include state lottery winnings.

State-conducted lottery means a lottery conducted by an agency of a state acting under authority of state law, but only if the wager is placed with the state agency conducting the lottery or with its authorized employees or agents. State-conducted lottery includes the Connecticut Lottery conducted by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, a public instrumentality of the State of Connecticut.

State lottery winnings means lottery winnings from a wager placed in a state-conducted lottery where the wager is placed with the state agency conducting the lottery or with its authorized employees or agents. State lottery winnings include Connecticut Lottery winnings.

1. Are gambling winnings subject to Connecticut income tax?

Whether gambling winnings are subject to Connecticut income tax depends on whether or not the winner is a Connecticut resident.

If the winner is a resident of Connecticut and meets the gross income test (below), all gambling winnings are subject to Connecticut income tax to the extent includable in the winner’s federal adjusted gross income.

If the winner is a part-year resident of Connecticut and meets the gross income test, gambling winnings are subject to Connecticut income tax to the extent includable in the winner’s federal adjusted gross income and to the extent the winnings were received during the Connecticut residency portion of the winner’s taxable year.

If the winner is a nonresident of Connecticut, gambling winnings, whether from gambling in Connecticut or from gambling outside Connecticut, are not subject to Connecticut income tax.

For information on whether an individual is a resident, nonresident, or part-year resident, see the instructions to the Connecticut income tax return for residents Form CT-1040, Connecticut Resident Income Tax Return, or the Connecticut income tax return for nonresidents or part-year FormCT-1040NR/PY, Connecticut Nonresident and Part-Year Resident Income Tax Return.

Gross income test:

A winner must file a Connecticut income tax return and report his or her gambling winnings if the winner’s gross income for the 2011 taxable year exceeds:

· $12,000 and the winner is filing separately;

· $13,000 and the winner is filing single;*

· $19,000 and the winner is filing head of household; or

· $24,000 and the winner is filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) with dependent child.

A winner’s gross income includes all income received in the form of money, goods, property, and services not exempt from federal income tax and any additions required to be reported on Form CT-1040, Schedule 1. Gross income includes but is not limited to compensation for services including wages, fees, commissions, taxable fringe benefits, and similar items; gross income from a business; capital gains; interest and dividends; gross rental income; gambling winnings; alimony; taxable pensions and annuities; prizes and awards; income from partnerships, S corporations, estates, and trusts; individual retirement account distributions; unemployment compensation; and federally taxable Social Security benefits.

If a winner’s gross income does not exceed the applicable gross income threshold and Connecticut income tax has been withheld from his or her gambling winnings, the Connecticut income tax will not be refunded to the winner unless he or she files a Connecticut income tax return.

2. Are gambling losses deductible?

Gambling losses are not deductible for Connecticut income tax purposes even though, in certain circumstances, they are deductible for federal income tax purposes.

3. May a resident or part-year resident claim a credit against his or her Connecticut income tax for income tax paid to another state on gambling winnings?

No. Neither a resident nor part-year resident is eligible to claim a credit against his or her Connecticut income tax for income tax paid to another state on gambling winnings.

4. Will Connecticut income tax be withheld from gambling winnings?

Connecticut income tax will be withheld from a payment of gambling winnings if all of the following conditions are met:

The payer maintains an office or transacts business in Connecticut;
The payment is subject to federal income tax withholding; and
The payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

For example, a dog track located within Connecticut must withhold Connecticut income tax from a payment of winnings only if the payment is subject to federal income tax withholding and the payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident. Also, if a payer of gambling winnings is a nonprofit organization maintaining an office or carrying on activities in Connecticut, the nonprofit organization must withhold Connecticut income tax from a payment of gambling winnings if it is required to withhold federal income tax from the payment and the payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

The fact that federal or Connecticut income tax may have been withheld from a winner’s winnings does not excuse the winner from filing a federal income tax return or a Connecticut income tax return.

Connecticut income tax will not be withheld from gambling winnings if the payer does not maintain an office or transact business in Connecticut, if the payment is not subject to federal income tax withholding, or if the payment is not made to a resident or someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

5. Is a winner required to provide his or her name, address, and Social Security Number (SSN) to the payer?

Pa Tax On Gambling Winnings 2019

Yes. A winner is required by federal law to provide proper identification to verify his or her name, address, and Social Security Number.

6. How is a winner’s residency status determined?

A payer of gambling winnings determines the residency status of a winner based upon the address furnished and the identification provided by the winner. The payer must additionally require two forms of identification from the winner including but not limited to a Social Security card or a driver’s license.

Pa Income Tax Gambling Winnings

7. What if there is more than one winner?

If more than one person is entitled to a share of the winnings subject to reporting or withholding, one federal Form 5754, Statement by Person(s) Receiving Gambling Winnings, must be completed identifying each person entitled to a share. Federal Form 5754 is also used when the person receiving gambling winnings subject to reporting or withholding is not the actual winner. This form will list the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of all persons receiving any payment of the winnings. The form must be signed, under penalty of perjury, by the person or persons receiving the winnings. The payer uses the information on federal Form 5754 to prepare federal Form W-2G for each of the winners. A copy of federal Form 5754 must be retained by the payer. A copy of federal Form 5754 need not be submitted to DRS, but must be made available upon request. If the person receiving the winnings is unable to properly identify any of the persons entitled to a share of the winnings or their state of residence, the amount of the winnings applicable to the other person is considered to have been won by a resident of Connecticut and Connecticut income tax must be deducted and withheld from the winnings.

8. Will payments of gambling winnings be reported to DRS?

If a payer of gambling winnings maintains an office or transacts business in Connecticut, the payer is required to report payments of gambling winnings to DRS if the payer is required to report the payment to the IRS and the payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

The fact that a payer may not have been required to report a payment of gambling winnings to the IRS does not excuse the winner from reporting those winnings for federal and Connecticut income tax purposes.

While payers of gambling winnings not maintaining an office or transacting business in Connecticut are not required to report payments to DRS, the IRS provides information about gambling winnings of Connecticut residents to DRS.

Effect on Other Documents: Informational Publication 2009(36), Connecticut Income Tax Treatment of Gambling Winnings Other Than State Lottery Winnings, is modified and superseded and may not be relied upon on or after the date of issuance of this Informational Publication.

Effect of This Document: An Informational Publication issued by DRS addresses frequently-asked questions about a current position, policy, or practice, usually in a less technical question and answer format.

For More Information: Call DRS during business hours, Monday through Friday:

Pa Tax Rate On Gambling Winnings

1-800-382-9463 (Connecticut calls outside the Greater Hartford calling area only); or

TTY, TDD, and Text Telephone users only may transmit inquiries anytime by calling 860-297-4911.

Pa Tax On Gambling Winnings

IP 2011(27)
Income Tax
Gambling Winnings
Issued: 01/04/12