New York Lottery Tax Calculator
Enter a prize amount.
Withheld at payout
(24% federal + 10.9% 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 New York rate (10.9%) on the full prize, which is close to reality for jackpots and conservative for smaller prizes. Local taxes (see below), deductions, and filing status change the exact number. This is education, not tax advice.
Quick Answer
Quick Answer: How New York Taxes Lottery Winnings
The New York Lottery withholds 10.9% state tax on prizes over $5,000 plus 24% federal. New York's 10.9% 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.
New York Lottery Tax Facts
| State withholding on large prizes | 10.9% (prizes over $5,000) |
| Top state rate you may actually owe | 10.9% (graduated) |
| Local taxes | NYC residents: additional 3.876% withheld; Yonkers residents: resident surcharge withheld (~1.83%) |
| Federal withholding | 24% on prizes over $5,000 |
| Top federal bracket | 37% |
| Claim deadline | 1 year from the draw date (scratch-offs: 1 year from announced end of game) |
| Winner anonymity | Not anonymous - winner name and city are public record; limited privacy via LLC/trust claims |
| Cash vs annuity election | Jackpot winners have 60 days from claiming to elect the cash option; defaults to annuity |
Highest state lottery withholding in the US; 10.9% top bracket in effect through 2027
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 New York the 10.9% graduated 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.
Local Taxes in New York
NYC residents: additional 3.876% withheld; Yonkers residents: resident surcharge withheld (~1.83%). Local layers rarely get withheld by the lottery, which makes them the most commonly missed line on a winner's first return.
Claiming Rules That Matter in New York
The claim window is 1 year from the draw date (scratch-offs: 1 year from announced end of game). For the cash-versus-annuity decision: jackpot winners have 60 days from claiming to elect the cash option; defaults to annuity. Anonymity: not anonymous - winner name and city are public record; limited privacy via LLC/trust claims.
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 New York lottery payments page or request a free quote.