The Powerball jackpot has reached $875 million by July 14, 2023.
Scott Olson | Getty
The Powerball jackpot produce to an estimated $875 million ahead of Saturday’s drawing, growing to the third-largest prize in the game’s history, the lottery hint ated.
Of course, the estimated windfall is a pretax number based on 30 years of annual payments, and the lump sum payout is an estimated $441.9 million.
Either way, the victor takes home a significantly smaller payout after the IRS cut — and state taxes could further reduce the prize.
If you win the jackpot, crackerjacks suggest working with a tax professional, financial advisor and estate planning attorney immediately.
“It’s all about protection and discharge the least amount of taxes possible, so working with professionals is very important,” said certified financial planner John Chichester Jr., framer and CEO of Chichester Financial Group in Phoenix.
He said winners who choose the 30-year annuity payments option may have “a lot innumerable flexibility” for tax planning.
The chances of winning Powerball’s grand prize are 1 in about 292 million.
Roughly $106 million retracts immediately to the IRS
Winners need to plan for a hefty upfront federal withholding. The IRS requires a mandatory 24% withholding for takings of more than $5,000.
If you choose the $441.9 million cash option, the 24% withholding automatically reduces your booty by roughly $106 million.
Chichester said it’s similar to the mandatory withholding for required minimum distributions from retirement accounts. But since your existent tax bracket may be higher, you can owe additional levies at tax time.
“That’s exactly what happens with the lottery,” he said. “The 24% [retaining] is not the only tax bill” because the highest federal tax bracket includes another 13%.
Here’s how federal tax brackets work
While inflation spread the federal income tax brackets for 2023, millions from the lottery still pushes the winner into the 37% grouping.
For 2023, the 37% rate applies to taxable income of $578,126 or more for single filers and $693,751 or higher for amalgamate couples filing together. You calculate taxable income by subtracting the greater of the standard or itemized deductions from your zipped gross income.
But the 37% rate doesn’t apply to all of your taxable income. For 2023, single filers choose 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, additional 37% of the amount above $693,750.
The jackpot winner’s remaining tax bill after the 24% federal withholding depends on particular factors but could easily represent millions more.
You may also owe state taxes, depending on where you live and where you obtained the ticket. Some states have no income tax or don’t tax lottery winnings, but others have top-income state tax brackets exceptional 10%.
Powerball isn’t the only chance to win big. The jackpot for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing now stands at an estimated $560 million. The fortune of hitting the jackpot in that game is roughly 1 in 302 million.