That $367 million Mega Millions jackpot comes with big tax bite

FAN Editor

Drew Angerer | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Eyeballing that Mega Millions jackpot? Good ol’ Uncle Sam is, too.

After more than two months of twice-weekly drawings with no one matching all six numbers, the top prize has climbed to $367 million for Tuesday night’s drawing. The last jackpot won was on March 12, for $50 million.

Of course, the advertised amount isn’t what winners end up with.

Whether they take the prize as an annuity spread out over three decades or as an immediate, reduced lump sum, 24% is withheld for federal taxes. However, the top marginal tax rate of 37% means owing a lot more to the IRS at tax time. State taxes typically are due, as well.

Largest U.S. lottery jackpots

Rank Amount Date won Game Winner locations
1 $1.586 billion Jan. 13 2016 Powerball CA-FL-TN
2 $1.54 billion Oct. 23 2018 Mega Millions SC
3 $768.4 million March 27 2019 Powerball WI
3 $758.7 million Aug. 23 2017 Powerball MA
5 $687.8 million Oct. 27 2018 Powerball IA-NY
6 $656 million Mar. 30 2012 Mega Millions KS-IL-MD
7 $648 million Dec. 17 2013 Mega Millions CA-GA
8 $590.5 million May 13 2013 Powerball FL
9 $587.5 million Nov. 28 2012 Powerball AZ-MO
10 $564.1 million Feb. 11 2015 Powerball NC-PR-TX

“If you win, just realize how big the tax bill can be and make sure you’re ready to handle it,” said certified financial planner Dan Routh, a wealth advisor at Exencial Wealth Advisors in Oklahoma City.

For Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing, the cash option — which most winners go with — is $228 million. The 24% federal withholding would reduce that amount by $54.7 million.

Assuming you had no reduction to your taxable income — such as large charitable contributions — another 13%, or $29.6 million, would be due to the IRS. That would be $84.3 million in all going to Uncle Sam.

This means that after federal taxes, you’d be left with $143.7 million.

Then there are state taxes, which range from zero to more than 8% depending on where the ticket was purchased and where the winner lives.

In other words, you could end up paying more than 45% in taxes.

More from Personal Finance:
These are the 10 most affordable vacations in the US
Those credit scores you see may not be what lenders use
There’s a hidden cost to your 401(k)

If you’re lucky enough to win a life-changing amount in the lottery — and your chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in about 302.1 million — experts recommend turning to a team of professionals who are experienced in handling large windfalls. That should include an attorney, a financial advisor and a tax advisor.

“Everyone who buys a ticket dreams of winning the huge jackpot, but nobody actually thinks they will win, or has a plan in place if they do,” said Jason Kurland, a partner at Rivkin Radler, a law firm in Uniondale, New York.

Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot is an estimated $288 million for Wednesday night’s drawing.

The last time there was a top-prize winner in that game was on March 28, when a Wisconsin man nabbed a $768.4 million jackpot. Manual Franco, who claimed his haul in late April, chose the lump sum cash option of $477 million. After federal and state tax withholdings, he received $326 million.

Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.

Free America Network Articles

Leave a Reply

Next Post

Convicted Russian agent Maria Butina releases video from jail

<![CDATA[ ]]> <![CDATA[ .title, .evening-news .listing-full-focus-with-label .items .item>.label, .evening-news .listing-full-lead-media .items .item>.label, .evening-news .module-listing.module-basic .module-heading.title, .evening-news .module .module-heading.title { font-family: “futura-pt”,Helvetica,Roboto,sans-serif; } .mobile [data-role=”content”] > .container::before { display: none; } ]]]]> ]]> <![CDATA[ ]]> <![CDATA[ ]]> <![CDATA[ ]]> <![CDATA[ ]]> <![CDATA[ ]]> <![CDATA[ ]]> Free America Network Articles