Louisiana State Tax on Lottery Winnings
Free Louisiana lottery tax calculator for Powerball and Mega Millions. Louisiana taxes lottery winnings at 3.00% (top marginal rate).
Current Powerball $516M jackpot, single filer
$127.60M
Actual take-home: 24.7% of what they advertise
What You'd Actually Take Home.
Lottery Tax Calculator for Powerball, Mega Millions, and Every State.
Pick your game, state, and filing status to see what you'd really keep after taxes.
Standard deduction: $16,100. All lottery income is taxed at your individual rate. This is the most common filing status for winners.
Know What a Big Lottery Jackpot Is Really Worth.
The jackpot is $516M right now. Get occasional jackpot updates showing the advertised prize, estimated lump-sum cash value, and estimated take-home after federal and state taxes.
Free to join. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We never sell your email.
From Advertised to Deposit, Line by Line.
Every row updates as you change the controls above. Sources cited inline.
Browse by stateAll 50 States + DC, Ranked by Lottery Tax Bite.
10 states · no lottery taxHighest: Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington DC
All 50 States + DC, Ranked by Lottery Tax Bite.
Click any tile to see that state's full breakdown. Green = no state lottery tax. Red = top-bracket states.
What to Know Before Claiming a Jackpot in Louisiana
Louisiana switched to a flat 3% income tax in 2025, one of the lowest rates among states that tax lottery winnings, so a jackpot winner here keeps more than in most states. Privacy is the trade-off. Every prize payment record is an open record, the statute lets the Lottery use a winner's name and city for news releases, and there is no anonymity option above $600. You have 180 days to claim. A Powerball, Mega Millions, or Lotto jackpot, or any prize over $510,000, must be claimed at Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge. Since 2004 the state constitution has sent Lottery proceeds to the Minimum Foundation Program, which funds K-12 public schools.
- State tax rate (2026)
- 3% flat, down from graduated brackets under the 2025 tax overhaul
- Deadline to claim
- 180 days from the drawing
- Anonymity
- Not available. Prize payment records are open records, and the statute lets the Lottery publicize a winner's name and city of residence
- Where jackpots are claimed
- At Louisiana Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge for Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto jackpots or any prize over $510,000
- What proceeds fund
- K-12 public education. The state constitution dedicates Lottery proceeds to the Minimum Foundation Program, and the Lottery must transfer at least 25% of revenue. It has passed $5 billion to that program
Sources: Louisiana Dept. of Revenue: Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets · Louisiana Lottery: Claim a Prize · Louisiana Lottery: FAQs · Louisiana Lottery: $5 Billion to the Minimum Foundation Program
Louisiana Lottery Winnings Tax Overview
The Louisiana state tax on lottery winnings is 3%, well below the national median for states that collect a lottery tax. This puts Louisiana at number 37 out of 41 taxed states, which means a larger share of your Powerball or Mega Millions prize stays in your pocket once the federal lottery tax of up to 37% is settled. The Louisiana lottery tax calculator above shows the exact lump sum take home for any current jackpot.
How the Louisiana Lottery Payout Calculator Works
In Louisiana, the lottery payout calculation begins with the lump sum cash option, which equals roughly 45% of the advertised jackpot. The IRS withholds 24% federal lottery tax at the moment of payout, but a Powerball or Mega Millions prize pushes the winner into the 37% top federal bracket, so additional federal tax comes due at filing. On top of that, Louisiana taxes lottery winnings at 3% of the full lump sum. The lottery payout calculator above runs all of this math for you, using IRS 2026 brackets and the top marginal Louisiana lottery tax rate.
How Louisiana Compares to Other Lottery Tax States
Louisiana's 3% lottery tax rate ranks number 37 out of 41 taxed states. States with a higher lottery tax rate than Louisiana include Kentucky and Pennsylvania. States with a lower rate include Indiana and Ohio. For context, 10 states collect no lottery tax at all, which means a Powerball or Mega Millions winner in one of those states keeps an extra 3% of their lump sum compared to a winner in Louisiana.
Louisiana Lottery Tax FAQs
What is the Louisiana state tax on lottery winnings?
Louisiana taxes lottery winnings at a top marginal rate of 3%. This rate applies to the lump sum cash option from any Powerball or Mega Millions prize, and it is paid in addition to the federal lottery tax of up to 37% at the highest bracket. The lottery tax calculator above shows the exact dollar amount for any current jackpot.
Should I take the lump sum or annuity in Louisiana?
Most Powerball and Mega Millions winners choose the lump sum cash option. In Louisiana, both options face the same 3% state lottery tax rate, but the annuity spreads the tax across 30 years while the lump sum delivers the full cash value now. The lottery payout calculator above shows the lump sum after taxes; the annuity choice is a separate financial decision based on personal goals and investment return assumptions.
Does Louisiana withhold tax on a lottery payout before payment?
The IRS withholds 24% federal lottery tax on any lottery prize above $5,000 before the winner ever sees the check. Louisiana also withholds state tax at or near the 3% top rate at the moment of payout. The remaining federal balance, up to the 37% top bracket, then comes due in April when the winner files a federal return.
Can you stay anonymous if you win the lottery in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana law makes lottery prize payment records open to the public, so the name and city of residence of a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot winner can be released, and the statute specifically allows the Lottery to use that information in news releases. The Lottery says it does not use a winner's identity in paid advertising without consent, but it cannot keep the basic facts of the win private.