Kentucky (KY) Lottery
Tax & Payout Calculator

Yes. Kentucky taxes lottery winnings at 3.5%, and federal income tax applies too.

Kentucky taxes lottery winnings at 3.5%, on top of federal income tax. 24% federal and 3.5% state tax are withheld from prizes over $5,000; smaller prizes are paid in full.

Nothing is withheld: the Kentucky Lottery pays the full $1,000. The prize is still taxable income, taxed at your federal rate when you file: from 10% to 37%, depending on your income. Kentucky taxes it too, at 3.5%.

The Kentucky Lottery withholds $2,750 and pays you $7,250. The prize is still taxable income, taxed at your federal rate when you file: from 10% to 37%, depending on your income. Kentucky taxes it too, at 3.5%.

The Kentucky Lottery withholds $275,000 and pays you $725,000. The prize is still taxable income, taxed at your federal rate when you file: from 10% to 37%, depending on your income. Kentucky taxes it too, at 3.5%.

Lottery winnings are taxed as income. Federal rates run from 10% to 37%, and in 2026 the top rate starts at $640,600 for a single filer and $768,700 for a married couple filing jointly. What's withheld when you're paid is a down payment: on a large prize, you'll likely owe more when you file.

Yes, for prizes of $2,000 or more: the lottery reports them to the IRS on Form W-2G. The threshold was $600 before 2026. Smaller prizes are still taxable income you report.

The next Powerball jackpot is an estimated $538 million, or $220.6 million as one cash payment. After federal tax and Kentucky's 3.5%, the cash leaves a single winner about $131.3 million. Taken as 30 yearly payments, it pays about $321.6 million after taxes in all.

The next Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $385 million, or $154.8 million as one cash payment. After federal tax and Kentucky's 3.5%, the cash leaves a single winner about $92.2 million. Taken as 30 yearly payments, it pays about $230.6 million after taxes in all.

The next Powerball Xs & Os jackpot is an estimated $1.5 million, paid as one cash payment. After federal tax and Kentucky's 3.5%, the cash leaves a single winner about $942,000.

The cash option is one payment, smaller than the advertised jackpot: the next Powerball jackpot's is 41% of it, all taxed in one year. The annuity pays the full jackpot in 30 yearly payments, each 5% larger than the last, each taxed in the year it's paid. In Kentucky, you choose within 60 days of claiming the prize.

Yes, the same as draw game prizes: scratch-off winnings are taxable income, and 24% federal and 3.5% state tax are withheld from prizes over $5,000. Kentucky taxes them at 3.5%.