程阳：美国明尼苏达州中奖者须知

Minnesota Lottery Winners Information

Claiming Your Prize

Prizes of $599.99 or less on one ticket may be claimed by mail or at any Minnesota State Lottery retailer (provided funds are available).

Winners of $600 or more must fill out a ticket claim form, available at any Minnesota State Lottery retailer or here online (you will need Adobe's free Acrobat reader to open and print the file).

Winners of $600 to $30,000 must claim prizes at any Lottery regional office (click here for addresses and phone numbers) or by mail with a completed claim form. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your PC or Mac and can download it free here.

Claims made by mail must be sent to:

Minnesota State Lottery
P.O. Box 131000
Roseville, MN 55113

All winners of prizes over $30,000 must claim the prize at Lottery headquarters in Roseville. Players are asked to call Public Relations at (651) 635-8271 before they claim the prize.

Remember to sign the back of all tickets before bringing them to a Lottery retailer or Lottery office to be checked or validated.

1. At least one person claiming the prize must sign the back of the ticket.
2. Each person claiming a share of the prize must complete a separate claim form.
3. Each person claiming a share of the prize should bring their completed claim form to one of our Lottery Regional Offices for payment or mail to Minnesota State Lottery, P.O. Box 131000, Roseville, MN 55113.
   Note: If any individual claiming a portion of the prize is not present, their claim form must be notarized. All checks for individuals not present will be mailed to the name and address listed on the claim form.
4. If you have any questions regarding the information provided, please be sure to call our office at 651-635-8273 for further instructions.

When You Win

Winning the Lottery may be one of the most exciting events to happen in your life. Yet, you may also find yourself concerned with questions such as, "What happens now? How do I manage such a large sum of money? How should I handle the media questions? Will my friends treat me differently?"

This Web page is designed to help address your concerns, as well as offer some general suggestions based on the past experience of other Lottery winners. Although every winner's situation is unique, this information is applicable in general terms. Most experts agree that the first thing you should do with your prize is sit tight and think about it: There is no need to hurry any financial decisions that may affect the rest of your life.

Financial professionals recommend placing your prize in an easily accessible, interest-bearing bank account for a few weeks. Your local financial institution will be happy to advise you at no charge. It is better not to make any major decisions -- like quitting your job, moving or making a large purchase -- until you have had time to think, consult professional advisers and plan. Study the opportunities you face. Decide what is really best for you and be certain that you are fully informed and comfortable before proceeding.

Getting paid

Depending on the type of prize you've won, your prize amount and type of prize payment will vary.

Prizes of more than $30,000

Winners of lottery prizes over $30,000 receive their prize in a lump-sum payment, usually the same day they claim it. After a security and validation process, the entire prize is awarded in one payment, less the amount withheld for federal and state taxes and any amount due under the Minnesota Revenue Recapture Act.

Powerball, Hot Lotto, Northstar Cash and Gopher 5 jackpot prizes are pari-mutuel. If multiple winning tickets are sold, the jackpot prize is split equally between winning tickets. If no one wins the jackpots, the prize increases for the next draw.

Powerball jackpots

Powerball jackpot winners can be paid in 30 annual payments over 29 years or in one lump-sum cash payment. If players choose the annuity, the annual payments will be increased each year by a percentage set out in the Powerball game procedures. The annuity payment is approximately twice the estimated cash jackpot amount. State and federal taxes, as well as any amount due under the Revenue Recapture Act, are withheld. Powerball jackpot prizes are pari-mutuel, so if more than one winning ticket is sold, the jackpot is split equally among all winning tickets.

Jackpot winners will receive a check two weeks after the ticket is validated.  Those who pick the cash option will receive the entire payment (less withholding), while those who select the 30-year annuity option will receive the first payment (less withholding).  The remaining 29 payments occur annually on the anniversary date of the first payment (or the first business day after the anniversary date, should the date fall on a weekend or holiday). 

Mega Millions jackpots

Mega Millions jackpot winners can be paid in 26 annual payments or in one lump-sum cash payment. The cash payment is approximately half the estimated annuity jackpot amount. State and federal taxes, as well as any amount due under the Revenue Recapture Act, are withheld. Mega Millions jackpot prizes are pari-mutuel, so if more than one winning ticket is sold, the jackpot is split equally among all winning tickets. Mega Millions game procedures.

Jackpot winners will receive a check approximately two weeks after the ticket is validated.  Those who pick the cash option will receive the entire payment (less withholding), while those who select the 26-year annuity option will receive the first payment (less withholding).  The remaining 25 payments occur annually on a date determined by the Lottery which is closest to the date from which the securities to fund the prize are purchased. 

Hot Lotto jackpots

Hot Lotto jackpot winners can be paid in 25 annual payments over 24 years or in one lump-sum payment. The annuity payment is approximately twice the the estimated cash jackpot amount. State and federal taxes, as well as any amount due under the Revenue Recapture Act, are withheld. Hot Lotto jackpot prizes are pari-mutuel, so if more than one winning ticket is sold, the jackpot is split equally among all winning ticket holders.

Jackpot winners will receive a check two weeks after the ticket is validated.  Those who pick the cash option will receive the entire payment (less withholding), while those who select the 25-year annuity option will receive the first payment (less withholding).  The remaining 24 payments occur annually on the anniversary date of the first payment (or the first business day after the anniversary date, should the date fall on a weekend or holiday). 

Q If a jackpot winner dies during the payment period, who receives the rest of the payments?

A The winner's beneficiaries, according to the winner's will, receive any remaining payments on the same annual schedule. The Lottery does not keep the money, nor does the state take it. Estate tax laws apply to the heirs of Lottery winners, and beneficiaries of such a prize should consult an attorney.

To ease the burden on the winner's estate when estate taxes are due, the estate can petition the Lottery to accelerate all payments due and pay the estate the present value of the remaining payments or transfer all of the securities being held for that prize to the estate. The estate should then have necessary funds to pay any estate tax due and transfer the remainder to the winner's heirs.

Q For those winners who select the 30-year Powerball jackpot annuity or 25-year Hot Lotto annuity, does the Lottery hold the entire jackpot and pay only a portion of it to the winner per year, while collecting interest on the rest in the meantime?

A No. Million or multimillion-dollar annuitized Lottery prizes are paid with securities, which are purchased so that a portion equal to your annual payment will mature each year. The total of these annual payments will equal your jackpot amount.

Taxes/Withholding

For every Lottery prize over $5,000, 32.25 percent is deducted for federal and state withholding. Federal law requires the Lottery to withhold 25 percent of each payment for federal income tax and state law requires that 7.25 percent be withheld for Minnesota personal income tax.

If you are not a resident of Minnesota, the 7.25 percent Minnesota income tax is still deducted from your check. A professional tax adviser can help you determine the best way to handle your federal and state tax obligations.

The amount withheld may or may not be sufficient to meet your total tax liability. Other income may increase your tax rate, and tax rates change. It may be in your best interest to rough out your taxes to see if you may need to pay in at the end of the year.

Debts Owed to the State of Minnesota

Under the Minnesota Revenue Recapture Act, Lottery prize winners of $600 or more are subject to a review by the Minnesota Department of Revenue for money owed to the state. Debts are subtracted from prize amounts.

Deducting Losses

Q Can I deduct my nonwinning lottery tickets on my income tax return?

A Yes. If you itemize deductions on your federal tax return, you may deduct the amount you spend on lottery tickets and any other gambling losses as a miscellaneous itemized deduction, but only up to the amount of lottery prizes and other gambling prizes you report as taxable income. You must be able to prove the amount of your losses by receipt, ticket or statement.

 ________________________________________________________________

为什么美国中奖彩票纳税66% ？

程阳先生你好，看了广西彩票网的报道，美国爱荷华州最近一对夫妻中了2亿美元的强力球巨奖，可是实际拿到手只有6710万美元，难道美国中奖彩票纳税66%？
    请解答，谢谢！
   
    北京彩民大刘
    2006-10-8
   
    ************************************
   
    大刘，
   
    你看到的中文报道没有翻译完，其实英文原文有说明，就在文章的末尾——
    details of jackpot information:
    •annualized jackpot: $200.8 million
    •chosen to receive as: $95,974,824.23 lump-sum payment
    •federal withholding: $23,993,706.06 (25 percent)
    •state withholding: $4,798,741.21 (5 percent)
    •after-tax net payment: $67,182,376.96
   
    大奖详细信息：
    • 按年支付计息大奖奖金：2.008亿美元
    • 选择一次性支付奖金：9597万美元
    • 美国联邦扣税25%：2399万美元
    • 爱荷华州扣税5%：480万美元
    • 税后实际支付奖金：6718万美元
   
    程阳
    2006-10-9
   
    美国：爱荷华州夫妇中2亿美元强力球巨奖

______________________________________________________________________________