How Much Are Gambling Winnings Taxed In California

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Although the winnings from a game show can change a lucky winner’s life instantly, their after-winning-life might not be as splendid and impressive as most of us think.

I always had the dream of making an appearance on game shows such as The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and Let’s Make a Deal. The truth is, game show winnings are always a two-sided coin and often a suckers bet in my opinion.

While you’ll have magnificent on-air memories to perhaps cherish for years, you’ll also be taken to the terrible secrets of game show winnings: The burden of having to pay taxes on your winnings.

It’s something that you’ll never hear a game show’s host mention on TV, but you can always count on, that the IRS will always come for their share!

It’s important for you to know the thresholds that require income reporting by the payer. Winnings in the following amounts must be reported to the IRS by the payer: $600 or more at a horse track (if that is 300 times your bet) $1,200 or more at a slot machine or bingo game. Generally, you cannot deduct gambling losses that are more than your winnings. Example: If you won $10,000 but lost $15,000. You may deduct $10,000. Federal taxes - 25% of gambling cash winnings (if you would not be able to provide a proper tax identification or if you are a subject of backup withholding - 28%)- CA state income tax - 7% of gambling winnings. You would be able to recover part of withholding by filing the tax return. Let me know if you need any help. The tax reporting requirements for gambling winnings can be a bit complicated, though, since it varies based on the type of game you were playing when you won. If you win either $600 or 300 times your wager at the horse track, for instance, they’ll be required to report it. The California Lottery will still withhold 24 percent of your winnings to pay federal taxes if you’re a U.S. Citizen or resident alien, and 30 percent if you’re not. The California lottery taxes Scratcher winnings the same way if they're $600 or more.

For this reason, let’s look at some issues revolving around paying taxes on game show winnings, whether it’s a new car, thousands of dollars in cash, or a fully-paid vacation to the Bahamas (which reminds me, I need a vacation.)

Are Game Show Winnings Taxed?

Yes, In the United States, winners have to pay game show prize taxes. This is basically because the government views game show winnings as taxable income. It doesn’t matter whether the prize is in liquid cash or non-monetary, the winners are required to pay taxes on prizes won.

Most viewers often assume that the winner is often given their money or prizes right away after the show. If only it were that easy!

I laugh at how deceptive this actually is

Check out this article about Andrea Schwartz who won big prizes on one of my all time favorite game-shows The Price Is Right. Winning ‘The Price Is Right’ Is Great, Until You Get The Tax Bill

Here’s a quick summary of the article:After winning any game show or contest, you’ll sign some paperwork and agree that you’re going to pay taxes on the prizes. When it’s all said and done, the winner will most definitely get a 1099-MISC tax form from the show’s organizers, who are also obligated to send a copy to the IRS. And even if they do not provide you with the 1099 tax form, you still have to report the value of the winnings. Failure to do so can result in huge penalties!

How Much Will You Be Taxed?

The amount of tax you’ll pay on game show winnings depends on where you live and how much you win. You’ll have to pay federal taxes, as well as state taxes. If you, however, live in states that do not have income taxes such as Washington, Nevada, Texas, Alaska, Florida, South Dakota, and Wyoming, you may not have to pay state taxes on your game show winnings.

You’ll still owe Uncle Sam though (The U.S. Federal Government.)

Just like in lottery winnings, depending on your tax bracket, the IRS often expects you to pay a top rate tax of 37% on the gross value of the prize won, and this is on Federal tax alone! So suppose you won $10 million on a game show in the state of California where I live, you’ll have to pay a state income tax of about 12.3% plus the federal income tax of 37%.

YOU COULD END UP PAYING NEARLY HALF OF YOUR WINNINGS IN TAXES!

Can You Avoid Paying Game Show Prize Taxes?

How much are gambling winnings taxed in california tax

There are a few occasions when you can avoid paying game show prize taxes. For instance, game show winnings and other 1099 based income that are worth below $600 are not taxed by the IRS.

Another way to avoid paying game show prize taxes is by offering the winnings as gifts to friends and family members. Even though this means that you won’t keep the winnings for yourself, it’s a way to avoid the tax burden.

Either way, you need to speak with a Financial Advisor to understand how much and how to properly report on that year’s tax return!

Better To Win Cash Than A Car Or Vacation

Recently I had a conversation my CPA about whether someone is better winning cash or an actual prize. What I learned was, it depends. But most of the time, you’re probably better off taking the cash. If you win cash, you can simply set aside a portion of your winnings to cover the tax.

If you win a non-cash prize it can be quite a burden since you’ll have to pay taxes based on the value of your winnings. And the value can be highly subjective. For example, you could win a car and they say it’s worth 40,000 dollars, but, you could buy the same car on a weekend close-out sale from your local dealer for 35k.

How Much Are Gambling Winnings Taxed In California Tax

Wheel of Fortune is famous for giving cash prizes and vacation trips. The value of those trips will be counted as income for you, I recently read an article on MarketWatch which tells exactly what can happen.

Matt McMahan who won cash and prizes worth $16,400 and two vacation trips valued at $15,300.

The IRS not only taxed his cash and prizes winnings, but he had to pay tax on the two vacations. Fortunately, most shows do offer cash prizes in place of the trips, so you should consider going for the cash. Especially if you have to raise cash to pay for the taxes on the actual prize. Is it really free then? I’d take the cash and book my own vacation with as many discount deals as possible.

If You Do Ever Get Lucky And Win Remember…

  • Consider paying the applicable or estimated taxes on any prize as soon as you win.
  • Always know the exact value of your winnings. Show organizers may inflate the value to entice more participants or to reduce their tax obligations.
  • Always consider going for cash instead of non-cash prizes such as a vacation.
  • Do not be afraid to turn down any winnings if they may become a tax burden.

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Remember, to cover yourself, always seek out professional help for your tax planning etc.

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Have you won any game show prizes before? If so, I hope these tips can help you out.