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Winners Information |
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Claiming Your PrizeWinners of $599.99 or less on one ticket may claim their prize at any Minnesota State Lottery retailer, provided funds are available. Winners of $600 or more must fill out a ticket claim form, available at any Minnesota State Lottery retailer or here online (you will need Adobe's free Acrobat reader to open and print the file). Winners of $600 to $30,000 must claim prizes at any Lottery regional office (click here for addresses and phone numbers) or by mail with a completed claim form. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your PC or Mac and can download it free here. Claims made by mail must be sent to:
All winners of prizes over $30,000 or any merchandise prize must claim their prize at Lottery headquarters in Roseville. Players are asked to call Public Relations at (651) 635-8271 before they claim their prize. Remember to sign the back of all tickets before bringing them to a Lottery retailer or Lottery office to be checked or validated. Winners of more than $30,000 must claim prizes in person at the Lottery’s Roseville office. Individuals who will be sharing their prize may want to download our Prize Share Form. Completing a Prize Share of $30,000.00 or Less
When You WinWinning the Lottery may be one of the most exciting events to happen in your life. Yet, you may also find yourself concerned with questions such as, "What happens now? How do I manage such a large sum of money? How should I handle the media questions? Will my friends treat me differently?" This Web page is designed to help address your concerns, as well as offer some general suggestions based on the past experience of other Lottery winners. Although every winner's situation is unique, this information is applicable in general terms. Most experts agree that the first thing you should do with your prize is sit tight and think about it: There is no need to hurry any financial decisions that may affect the rest of your life. Financial professionals recommend placing your prize in an easily accessible, interest-bearing bank account for a few weeks. Your local financial institution will be happy to advise you at no charge. It is better not to make any major decisions -- like quitting your job, moving or making a large purchase -- until you have had time to think, consult professional advisers and plan. Study the opportunities you face. Decide what is really best for you and be certain that you are fully informed and comfortable before proceeding. Getting paidDepending on the type of prize you've won, your prize amount and type of prize payment will vary. Prizes of more than $30,000Winners of lottery prizes over $30,000 receive their prize in a lump-sum payment, usually the same day they claim it. After a security and validation process, the entire prize is awarded in one payment, less the amount withheld for federal and state taxes and any amount due under the Minnesota Revenue Recapture Act. Powerball, Hot Lotto, Northstar Cash and Gopher 5 jackpot prizes are pari-mutuel. If multiple winning tickets are sold, the jackpot prize is split equally between winning tickets. If no one wins the jackpots, the prize increases for the next draw. Powerball jackpotsPowerball jackpot winners can be paid in 30 annual payments over 29 years or in one lump-sum cash payment. If players choose the annuity, the annual payments will be increased each year by a percentage set out in the Powerball game procedures. The annuity payment is approximately twice the estimated cash jackpot amount. State and federal taxes, as well as any amount due under the Revenue Recapture Act, are withheld. Powerball jackpot prizes are pari-mutuel, so if more than one winning ticket is sold, the jackpot is split equally among all winning tickets. Jackpot winners will receive a check two weeks after the ticket is validated. Those who pick the cash option will receive the entire payment (less withholding), while those who select the 30-year annuity option will receive the first payment (less withholding). The remaining 29 payments occur annually on the anniversary date of the first payment (or the first business day after the anniversary date, should the date fall on a weekend or holiday). Hot Lotto jackpotsHot Lotto jackpot winners can be paid in 25 annual payments over 24 years or in one lump-sum payment. The annuity payment is approximately twice the the estimated cash jackpot amount. State and federal taxes, as well as any amount due under the Revenue Recapture Act, are withheld. Hot Lotto jackpot prizes are pari-mutuel, so if more than one winning ticket is sold, the jackpot is split equally among all winning ticket holders. Jackpot winners will receive a check two weeks after the ticket is validated. Those who pick the cash option will receive the entire payment (less withholding), while those who select the 25-year annuity option will receive the first payment (less withholding). The remaining 24 payments occur annually on the anniversary date of the first payment (or the first business day after the anniversary date, should the date fall on a weekend or holiday). Q If a jackpot winner dies during the payment period, who receives the rest of the payments? A The winner's beneficiaries, according to the winner's will, receive any remaining payments on the same annual schedule. The Lottery does not keep the money, nor does the state take it. Estate tax laws apply to the heirs of Lottery winners, and beneficiaries of such a prize should consult an attorney. To ease the burden on the winner's estate when estate taxes are due, the estate can petition the Lottery to accelerate all payments due and pay the estate the present value of the remaining payments or transfer all of the securities being held for that prize to the estate. The estate should then have necessary funds to pay any estate tax due and transfer the remainder to the winner's heirs. Q For those winners who select the 30-year Powerball jackpot annuity or 25-year Hot Lotto annuity, does the Lottery hold the entire jackpot and pay only a portion of it to the winner per year, while collecting interest on the rest in the meantime? A No. Million or multimillion-dollar annuitized Lottery prizes are paid with securities, which are purchased so that a portion equal to your annual payment will mature each year. The total of these annual payments will equal your jackpot amount. Taxes/WithholdingFor every Lottery prize over $5,000, 32.25 percent is deducted for federal and state withholding. Federal law requires the Lottery to withhold 25 percent of each payment for federal income tax and state law requires that 7.25 percent be withheld for Minnesota personal income tax. If you are not a resident of Minnesota, the 7.25 percent Minnesota income tax is still deducted from your check. A professional tax adviser can help you determine the best way to handle your federal and state tax obligations. The amount withheld may or may not be sufficient to meet your total tax liability. Other income may increase your tax rate, and tax rates change. It may be in your best interest to rough out your taxes to see if you may need to pay in at the end of the year. Debts Owed to the State of MinnesotaUnder the Minnesota Revenue Recapture Act, Lottery prize winners of $600 or more are subject to a review by the Minnesota Department of Revenue for money owed to the state. Debts are subtracted from prize amounts. Deducting LossesQ Can I deduct my nonwinning lottery tickets on my income tax return? A Yes. If you itemize deductions
on your federal tax return, you may deduct the amount you spend on lottery
tickets and any other gambling losses as a miscellaneous itemized deduction,
but only up to the amount of lottery prizes and other gambling prizes
you report as taxable income. You must be able to prove the amount of
your losses by receipt, ticket or statement. Winners by RegionFor a list of major prize winners in your part of the state, select from the options below. NORTHEAST NORTHWEST SOUTHWEST CENTRAL SOUTHEAST METRO Player Hotline |
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