Powerball jackpot grows to $650 million. Here’s the tax bill if there’s a winner

With no winner for the Powerball jackpot, the prize has jumped to an estimated $650 million ahead of Monday’s drawing. Of course, those winnings will be smaller once the IRS takes its share.

The jackpot jumped to $650 million from $615 million without a winning ticket on Saturday. If you beat the odds, you can now pick between a lump sum of an estimated $328.3 million or annual payments worth $650 million.

Your chances of winning the grand prize are 1 in about 292 million.

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“One thing that’s unique about the lottery is that you can accept it over a 30-year period with annuity payments,” said certified financial planner John Chichester Jr., founder and CEO of Chichester Financial Group in Phoenix. “That offers a lot more flexibility in how you pay the taxes.”

Rather than a larger, upfront tax bill, you can take the annuity payment and invest the money in a tax-efficient manner, said Chichester, who is also a certified public accountant.

Before winners see a penny of the multimillion-dollar jackpot, there’s a mandatory 24% federal withholding that goes to the IRS. The withholding applies to winnings of more than $5,000.

If you choose the $328.3 million cash option, the 24% withholding automatically reduces your cut by about $78.8 million. However, many taxpayers wrongly assume they’re off the hook after that 24%, Chichester said.

“That 24% comes off the top, but you’re still responsible for the other 13% at some point,” he said.

Here’s why: Millions in lottery winnings will push you into the top federal income tax bracket. For 2023, the 37% rate applies to taxable income of $578,126 or more for single filers and $693,751 or higher for married couples filing together. (You calculate taxable income by subtracting the greater of the standard or itemized deductions from your adjusted gross income.)  

Of course, the 37% doesn’t apply to all of your taxable income. For 2023, single filers will pay $174,238.25 plus 37% of the amount over $578,125. As for married couples filing together, the total owed is $186,601.50 plus 37% of the amount above $693,750.

The remaining tax bill depends on several factors, but could easily represent millions more.

You may also owe state taxes, depending on where you live and where you bought the ticket. While some states have no income tax or don’t tax lottery winnings, others have top income state tax brackets exceeding 10%. 

Powerball isn’t the only chance to win big. The jackpot for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing, meanwhile, now stands at $480 million. The chance of hitting the jackpot in that game is roughly 1 in 302 million.