If you lose money gambling, you might be able to deduct it on your tax returns. However, before you can claim the deduction, you'll have to meet two important requirements. First, the IRS will want you to itemize all of your deductions. Second, you can only deduct gambling losses to the extent that you have gambling winnings.
Claiming the Gambling Deduction
Does Gambling Winnings Count As Income 2016
The way that you claim the gambling deduction is relatively simple. First, you have to file Schedule A and itemize your tax deductions. This means that you can't claim the standard deduction, but you can write off expenses like your state income tax, mortgage interest, property taxes, car registration tax and charitable donations. If you have gambling losses, you write them off as 'other miscellaneous deductions' on line 28 of Schedule A, where they get combined with your other itemized deductions to reduce your taxable income.
Mar 11, 2018 Unearned income, which includes any income earned from investments, interests, spouse’s income or lottery winnings, do not have any limits. This means that no matter how much money you win playing the lottery, your SSDI payments will remain the same. If you’re on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), however, then it will be affected.
Deduction Rules
The IRS will only let you deduct losses to the extent that you win. For instance, if you lose $3,000 on one trip to the casino and win $2,100 on another trip in the same year, you can write off $2,100 in losses to offset the $2,100 in winnings, leaving you with a total of $900 of taxable gambling income. If you lost $1,000 on one trip and won $9,500 on another, though, you could claim the entire $1,000 in losses to reduce your net income from gambling to $8,500.
Proving Your Gambling
If you claim a gambling loss deduction, you will have to prove that you are entitled to it. Casinos send a form W-2G when you win to let the IRS know that they paid you, but it's up to you to establish your losses. The IRS requires you to keep tickets or receipts and a diary of your winnings and losses to substantiate your deduction. If you can get a printout from the casino of your gambling activity, such as if you use a player's club card, it may be helpful.
Professional Gambling
The rules for professional gamblers are different. A professional gambler makes a business out of gambling. He can write off his gambling losses and any expenses that he incurs for gambling -- like travel -- to offset gambling income. Since gambling is a business, he would file a Schedule C to report his income and expenses and would also have to pay self-employment taxes on his profits.
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About the Author
Steve Lander has been a writer since 1996, with experience in the fields of financial services, real estate and technology. His work has appeared in trade publications such as the 'Minnesota Real Estate Journal' and 'Minnesota Multi-Housing Association Advocate.' Lander holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Columbia University.
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Amount Gambling Winnings Taxed
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Discovering you have a winning lottery ticket is thrilling, especially if you hit the big jackpot. However, you won’t be able to keep the entire amount. Under federal law, lottery winnings are taxable, just like the income you earn at your job. You must report all gambling winnings on your federal tax return, and many states also demand a piece of your good luck.
Uncle Sam Always Gets His Cut
If your lottery prize exceeds $5,000, the lottery agency must report your winnings to the Internal Revenue Service. The agency will need your Social Security Number to complete IRS Form W-2G. It will give you a copy and send the original -- and 25 percent of your winnings -- to the IRS. The W-2G will show how much federal withholding the lottery agency deducted from your pay-out. You must report your lottery prize as income on your federal tax return, but you can claim the federal taxes withheld from your pay-out as a tax payment.
The Truth Behind Line 21
Even if your lottery prize is less than $5,000, but more than $600, you're expected to report it on your federal tax return. There's even a line for gambling winnings, Line 21 in fact, on Form 1040. This means if you have gambling winnings, you can't use either of the two simpler individual federal income tax forms, Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ.
No Proof of Loss Equals No Deduction
It's possible to deduct gambling losses, but only if you've got the proper paperwork. The IRS wants to see every receipt, ticket and whatever else reflects your total wins and losses before it'll give thumbs up on a deduction. Even then you can only deduct gambling losses up to the amount of your winnings. For example, if you spent $250 on lottery tickets and won $200, $200 is as much as you can claim as a loss on line 28 of Schedule A.
The Deduction Dilemma
Claiming your gambling losses as itemized deductions will increase your tax refund or reduce the taxes you owe. However, if the total of all your itemized deductions is less than the standard deduction that the IRS allows all taxpayers to claim, don't itemize. Use the standard deduction because it will lower your taxes.
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About the Author
Grygor Scott has written professionally since 1991, with a focus on law, government, food and travel. His work has appeared in 'New York Resident' and on several websites. The author of more than 20 nonfiction books, Scott graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law.