Lottery Payout Calculator

Last updated: 2026-07-14

Calculate your lottery after-tax payout for Powerball and Mega Millions. See federal and state tax brackets, cash vs annuity, and net take-home by state.

Net take-home

$189M

You'd keep about $189M of your $500M jackpot after taxes.

Game

Your State

Jackpot Amount

Payout Option

Cash Lump Sum Breakdown(Florida - No state income tax)

Gross Payout

$300,000,000

Federal Tax

-$110,958,188

37.0% effective

State Tax

$0.00

0.0% rate

Net Take-Home

$189,041,812

37.0% total effective tax rate

How Are Lottery Winnings Taxed?

Lottery winnings are taxed as ordinary income at both the federal and state level. The IRS withholds 24% upfront, but your actual federal tax liability is determined by progressive brackets with a top rate of 37%. State taxes range from 0% to 10.9% depending on where you live. Use the calculator above to see your exact after-tax payout.

Cash Option vs Annuity: Which Is Better?

The cash option gives you a lump sum worth roughly 60% of the advertised jackpot. The annuity pays the full amount over 30 years with 5% annual increases. Financial advisors often recommend the cash option if you can invest the lump sum at a rate exceeding the annuity's implicit return. Use our Annuity vs Lump Sum calculator for a detailed comparison.

State-by-State Lottery Tax Rates

Where you buy your ticket matters. A $500M Powerball jackpot yields millions more in Texas (0% state tax) than in New York (10.9%). See state-by-state lottery tax pages for detailed breakdowns and after-tax examples for every state.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much tax do you pay on lottery winnings?

Federal tax on lottery winnings is progressive, with a top rate of 37% on income over $609,350. State taxes vary from 0% (California, Florida, Texas, and others) to 10.9% (New York). The effective federal rate on a large jackpot approaches 37% since nearly all the winnings fall in the top bracket.

What is the cash option vs annuity?

The cash option (lump sum) pays approximately 60% of the advertised jackpot immediately. The annuity pays the full advertised amount over 30 annual payments that increase 5% each year. The cash option is smaller but gives you immediate access to invest.

Which states have no lottery tax?

Eight states do not tax lottery winnings: California, Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Nevada and Utah do not have state lotteries. Winning in a no-tax state can save millions on large jackpots.

How is the cash value of a lottery jackpot calculated?

The cash value represents the present value of the annuity prize pool. It is typically around 50-65% of the advertised jackpot, depending on current interest rates. Higher interest rates mean a lower cash value relative to the annuity.

Lottery Tax by State →