Illinois Lottery Tax Calculator
Enter a prize amount.
Withheld at payout
(24% federal + 4.95% state)
Check you receive
at claim time
Estimated keep after
ALL taxes at top rates
Estimates assume the top federal bracket (37%) and the top Illinois rate (4.95%) on the full prize, which is close to reality for jackpots and conservative for smaller prizes. Local taxes, deductions, and filing status change the exact number. This is education, not tax advice.
Quick Answer
Quick Answer: How Illinois Taxes Lottery Winnings
The Illinois Lottery withholds 4.95% state tax on prizes over $1,000 plus 24% federal. Illinois's flat 4.95% rate means the state withholding generally matches what you owe. Federally, large prizes are taxed at up to 37% even though only 24% is withheld up front.
Illinois Lottery Tax Facts
| State withholding on large prizes | 4.95% (prizes over $1,000) |
| Top state rate you may actually owe | 4.95% (flat) |
| Federal withholding | 24% on prizes over $5,000 |
| Top federal bracket | 37% |
| Claim deadline | 1 year from the draw date; lump-sum cash option requires claiming within 60 days of the drawing |
| Winner anonymity | Anonymous on request for prizes of $250,000+ (name and municipality withheld) |
| Cash vs annuity election | Jackpot lump sum available only if claimed within 60 days of the drawing date; later claims are paid as annuity |
Withholding Is Not the Bill
On any prize over $5,000 the lottery sends 24% straight to the IRS before you see a dollar. A large prize, however, lands mostly in the 37% federal bracket, so the true federal bill runs well past what was withheld. In Illinois the 4.95% flat rate means state withholding and state liability generally line up. Winners who spend to the post-withholding number get an ugly surprise in April. Set the difference aside the week you claim.
Claiming Rules That Matter in Illinois
The claim window is 1 year from the draw date; lump-sum cash option requires claiming within 60 days of the drawing. For the cash-versus-annuity decision: jackpot lump sum available only if claimed within 60 days of the drawing date; later claims are paid as annuity. Anonymity: anonymous on request for prizes of $250,000+ (name and municipality withheld).
Already Collecting Annual Lottery Payments?
If you took the annuity and your plans have changed, you can sell some or all of your remaining installments for a lump sum through a court-approved assignment. The lump sum keeps the same tax character as the payments it replaces, and quotes through this site disclose the exact discount rate in writing. Transactions are funded and completed by our funding partner, Genex Capital, after court approval. Start with the Illinois lottery payments page or request a free quote.