Wisconsin State Tax on Lottery Winnings
Free Wisconsin lottery tax calculator for Powerball and Mega Millions. Wisconsin taxes lottery winnings at 7.65% (top marginal rate).
Current Powerball $516M jackpot, single filer
$117.72M
Actual take-home: 22.8% of what they advertise
What You'd Actually Take Home.
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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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What to Know Before Claiming a Jackpot in Wisconsin
Wisconsin taxes lottery winnings at a top rate of 7.65%, and a jackpot lump sum lands in that bracket. There is no privacy option. Under the state's open records law, the Wisconsin Lottery must release a winner's name and city on request, and bills to change that have gone nowhere. You have 180 days to claim, and prizes of $200,000 or more must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Wisconsin is unusual in what it does with the money: instead of funding schools, Lottery proceeds pay for property tax relief, showing up as a credit on the tax bill for a Wisconsin resident's primary home.
- State tax rate (2026)
- 7.65% top rate
- Deadline to claim
- 180 days after the official draw date
- Anonymity
- Not available. Under Wisconsin's open records law the Lottery must release a winner's name and city on request
- Where jackpots are claimed
- In person at the Madison Lottery office for prizes of $200,000 or more
- What proceeds fund
- Property tax relief for Wisconsin residents. Lottery net revenue and unclaimed prizes pay the lottery and gaming credit, which lowers the property tax bill on an eligible resident's primary home
Sources: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue: Tax Rates · Wisconsin Lottery: FAQs · Wisconsin Lottery: Can a Winner Remain Anonymous? · Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue: Lottery and Gaming Credit Program
Wisconsin Lottery Winnings Tax Overview
The Wisconsin state tax on lottery winnings is 7.65%, which sits in the upper tier among states that collect a lottery tax. Ranked number 11 out of 41 taxed states, Wisconsin pulls a meaningful cut from any Powerball or Mega Millions payout before the federal lottery tax applies. The Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Lottery Payout Calculator Works
In Wisconsin, 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, Wisconsin taxes lottery winnings at 7.65% 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 Wisconsin lottery tax rate.
How Wisconsin Compares to Other Lottery Tax States
Wisconsin's 7.65% lottery tax rate ranks number 11 out of 41 taxed states. States with a higher lottery tax rate than Wisconsin include Massachusetts and Vermont. States with a lower rate include Connecticut and Delaware. 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 7.65% of their lump sum compared to a winner in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Lottery Tax FAQs
What is the Wisconsin state tax on lottery winnings?
Wisconsin taxes lottery winnings at a top marginal rate of 7.65%. 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 Wisconsin?
Most Powerball and Mega Millions winners choose the lump sum cash option. In Wisconsin, both options face the same 7.65% 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 Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin also withholds state tax at or near the 7.65% 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 Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin has an open records law, and the Lottery is required to release a winner's name and city of residence to anyone who requests it. Other details need the winner's consent, but the name and hometown do not. Efforts in the Legislature to let winners stay private have not passed, so a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot winner in Wisconsin should plan for the announcement.