CheckOfficial DC Lottery Data

    Washington DC (DC) Lottery
    Tax & Payout Calculator

    Washington DC taxes lottery winnings at up to 10.75%, and federal income tax applies too. 24% federal and 10.75% state tax are withheld from prizes over $5,000. Taken as cash, the next $538 million Powerball jackpot leaves a Washington DC winner about $115.3 million.

    Washington DC Powerball & Mega Millions Jackpots After Taxes

    What each jackpot leaves after federal and Washington DC tax, as one cash payment or paid yearly.

    Powerball

    Jackpot
    $538M
    Cash value
    $220.6M
    Federal + state tax
    $105.3M
    You keep
    About $115.3M

    Mega Millions

    Jackpot
    $385M
    Cash value
    $154.8M
    Federal + state tax
    $73.9M
    You keep
    About $80.9M

    Lotto America

    Jackpot
    $2.2M
    Cash value
    $880K
    Federal + state tax
    $370.2K
    You keep
    About $509.8K

    Powerball Xs & Os

    Jackpot
    $1.5M
    Cash value
    $1.5M
    Federal + state tax
    $666.3K
    You keep
    About $833.7K

    Federal tax at the 2026 rates for a single filer with no other income and Washington DC's 10.75% tax.

    Play scratch-offs too?Up to x63.8 better jackpot odds

    For $50K to $1M+ jackpots on the best Washington DC scratch-offs. ScratchOdds ranks all 73 by today's odds.

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    DC Lottery Tax Calculator

    Type your prize to see what's withheld when it's paid and what you're handed.

    $
    PrizeWithheld at claimPaid to you
    $1,000Nothing$1,000
    $5,000Nothing$5,000
    $10,000$3,475$6,525
    $50,000$17,375$32,625
    $100,000$34,750$65,250
    $1,000,000$347,500$652,500

    Every prize is taxable income. From $2,000 the lottery reports it to the IRS, and your final federal tax depends on your income, from 10% to 37%.

    Good to Know

    Washington DC tax on winnings 

    Up to 10.75%

    Graduated: what you owe depends on your income, on top of federal tax.

    Withheld when you're paid 

    24% federal + 10.75% state over $5,000

    Smaller prizes are paid in full.

    Not a U.S. citizen or resident 

    30% withheld

    From every prize.

    Top federal rate 

    37% over $640,600

    $768,700 for married filing jointly. A jackpot owes most of its tax at this rate, more than the 24% withheld.

    Reported to the IRS 

    Prizes of $2,000 or more

    On Form W-2G, from 2026; it was $600 before.

    Cash or annuity 

    Choose within 60 days of claiming the prize

    Cash is one smaller payment. The annuity pays the full jackpot yearly: 30 years for Powerball, Mega Millions and Lotto America.

    Graduated state tax 

    The District taxes its residents' income at graduated rates, from 4% up to 10.75% on taxable income over $1 million, and winnings are added to the rest of your income.

    Nonresidents 

    The District taxes only its own residents' income, so winners who live outside DC owe no DC income tax on their winnings, only what their own state charges.

    Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.

    You can't change the lottery's odds.
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    The best Washington DC scratch-offs right now have up to x63.8 better jackpot odds for $50K to $1M+ jackpots.

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    More DC Lottery Help

    What each game pays, the best scratch-offs, and taxes in other states.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers about the DC Lottery

    Does Washington DC tax lottery winnings?
    Yes. Washington DC taxes lottery winnings at up to 10.75%, and federal income tax applies too.
    What is the Washington DC lottery tax rate?
    Washington DC taxes lottery winnings at up to 10.75%, on top of federal income tax. 24% federal and 10.75% state tax are withheld from prizes over $5,000; smaller prizes are paid in full. For a winner who isn't a U.S. citizen or resident, 30% federal tax is withheld from every prize.
    How much tax do you pay on a $1,000 lottery ticket in Washington DC?
    Nothing is withheld: the DC 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. Washington DC taxes it too, at up to 10.75%.
    How much tax do you pay on a $10,000 lottery ticket in Washington DC?
    The DC Lottery withholds $3,475 and pays you $6,525. The prize is still taxable income, taxed at your federal rate when you file: from 10% to 37%, depending on your income. Washington DC taxes it too, at up to 10.75%.
    How much tax do you pay on $1 million in lottery winnings in Washington DC?
    The DC Lottery withholds $347,500 and pays you $652,500. The prize is still taxable income, taxed at your federal rate when you file: from 10% to 37%, depending on your income. Washington DC taxes it too, at up to 10.75%.
    How much are lottery winnings taxed?
    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.
    Do you get a W-2G for lottery winnings?
    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.
    How much is the Powerball jackpot after taxes in Washington DC?
    The next Powerball jackpot is an estimated $538 million, or $220.6 million as one cash payment. After federal tax and Washington DC's 10.75%, the cash leaves a single winner about $115.3 million. Taken as 30 yearly payments, it pays about $282.6 million after taxes in all.
    How much is the Mega Millions jackpot after taxes in Washington DC?
    The next Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $385 million, or $154.8 million as one cash payment. After federal tax and Washington DC's 10.75%, the cash leaves a single winner about $80.9 million. Taken as 30 yearly payments, it pays about $202.7 million after taxes in all.
    How much is the Lotto America jackpot after taxes in Washington DC?
    The next Lotto America jackpot is an estimated $2.2 million, or $880,000 as one cash payment. After federal tax and Washington DC's 10.75%, the cash leaves a single winner about $510,000.
    How much is the Powerball Xs & Os jackpot after taxes in Washington DC?
    The next Powerball Xs & Os jackpot is an estimated $1.5 million, paid as one cash payment. After federal tax and Washington DC's 10.75%, the cash leaves a single winner about $834,000.
    What is the difference between the cash option and the annuity?
    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 Washington DC, you choose within 60 days of claiming the prize.
    Are scratch-off winnings taxed in Washington DC?
    Yes, the same as draw game prizes: scratch-off winnings are taxable income, and 24% federal and 10.75% state tax are withheld from prizes over $5,000. Washington DC taxes them at up to 10.75%.

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