Maine State Tax on Lottery Winnings
Free Maine lottery tax calculator for Powerball and Mega Millions. Maine taxes lottery winnings at 9.15% (top marginal rate).
Current Powerball $516M jackpot, single filer
$114.53M
Actual take-home: 22.2% of what they advertise
Note: Includes the 2% surtax on income over $1M, effective 2026 (LD 2212); a jackpot lump sum clears that threshold
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.
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10 states · no lottery taxHighest: Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington DC
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What to Know Before Claiming a Jackpot in Maine
Maine's top income tax rate is 7.15%, but a 2% surcharge on income over $1 million took effect in 2026, and a jackpot lump sum clears that line easily, so plan around an effective 9.15% state rate. Privacy, though, improved. Under a 2025 law, the identity of a winner of $100,000 or more is confidential and kept out of the public record unless the winner authorizes disclosure in writing. Any Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot is far above that threshold. You have one year to claim, and Maine Lottery proceeds go to the state's General Fund rather than to a single program.
- State tax rate (2026)
- 7.15% top rate, plus a 2% surcharge on income over $1 million, so a jackpot is taxed at about 9.15%
- Deadline to claim
- One year from the drawing date
- Anonymity
- Allowed for prizes of $100,000 or more. State law keeps the winner's identity confidential and out of public records unless the winner authorizes disclosure in writing
- Where jackpots are claimed
- At the Maine State Lottery office in Augusta, in person or by mail
- What proceeds fund
- The Maine General Fund, which supports state programs and services generally rather than one earmarked cause
Sources: Maine Revenue Services: 2026 Individual Income Tax Rates · Maine Legislature: 8 M.R.S. Section 378-B · Maine State Lottery: How to Claim a Prize · Maine State Lottery: FAQ
Maine Lottery Winnings Tax Overview
The Maine state tax on lottery winnings is 9.15%, which sits in the upper tier among states that collect a lottery tax. Ranked number 8 out of 41 taxed states, Maine pulls a meaningful cut from any Powerball or Mega Millions payout before the federal lottery tax applies. The Maine lottery tax calculator above breaks down every dollar of your potential lump sum prize, from the advertised jackpot to the final after tax number that lands in your account.
How the Maine Lottery Payout Calculator Works
In Maine, 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, Maine taxes lottery winnings at 9.15% 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 Maine lottery tax rate. One Maine specific detail to factor in: Includes the 2% surtax on income over $1M, effective 2026 (LD 2212); a jackpot lump sum clears that threshold.
How Maine Compares to Other Lottery Tax States
Maine's 9.15% lottery tax rate ranks number 8 out of 41 taxed states. States with a higher lottery tax rate than Maine include Minnesota and Maryland. States with a lower rate include Massachusetts and Vermont. 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 9.15% of their lump sum compared to a winner in Maine.
Maine Lottery Tax FAQs
What is the Maine state tax on lottery winnings?
Maine taxes lottery winnings at a top marginal rate of 9.15%. 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 Maine?
Most Powerball and Mega Millions winners choose the lump sum cash option. In Maine, both options face the same 9.15% 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 Maine 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. Maine also withholds state tax at or near the 9.15% 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 Maine?
Yes, for any real jackpot. Under 8 M.R.S. Section 378-B, signed into law in 2025, the identity of a person who wins a prize of $100,000 or more is confidential and is not a public record unless the winner gives written authorization to release it. Participants in Maine's Address Confidentiality Program are protected at any prize amount. A Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot is well above the $100,000 line.