🍒 Topic No. Gambling Income and Losses | Internal Revenue Service

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And, if that's your thing, we hope you come home a winner. Otherwise, for this year's winnings, the payer must send the form to you by January 31, In any event, if your bet was with a casino, we're fairly certain you'll get the W-2G. So, before you run out and spend your jackpot, here are 8 things to remember about taxes on gambling winnings and losses. Search Close. Toggle navigation Menu Subscribers. You won't be taxed twice, though. And, please, make sure you report all your gambling winnings. So if you claim the standard deduction, you're out of luck twice—once for losing your bet and once for not being able to deduct your gambling losses. If you receive a W-2G form along with your gambling winnings, don't forget that the IRS is getting a copy of the form, too. Slide Show.{/INSERTKEYS}{/PARAGRAPH} Second, you can't deduct gambling losses that are more than the winnings you report on your return. Again, this is what to expect when you plunk down a bet at a casino or with some other legally operated gaming business … don't expect your buddy to withhold taxes from the money you win from a friendly wager although, technically, he or she should. {PARAGRAPH}{INSERTKEYS}Getty Images. You may or may not be able to deduct gambling losses on your state tax return. Did you have a bad night at the blackjack table or pick the wrong horse to win? And they could withhold the tax from your payout to make sure they get what they're owed. There are a couple of important catches, though. Store Podcasts Log in. That's because you may owe state or local taxes on your gambling winnings, too. If you're a professional gambler , you can deduct your losses as business expenses on Schedule C without having to itemize. To help you keep track of how much you've won or lost over the course of a year, the IRS suggests keeping a diary or similar record of your gambling activities. The American gaming industry is booming. The IRS is always looking for supposed "business" activities that are really just hobbies. However, a note of caution: An activity only qualifies as a business if your primary purpose is to make a profit and you're continually and regularly involved in it. There's a silver lining if you lose a bet or two—your gambling losses might be deductible. There are certainly plenty of opportunities to plunk down a bet if you enjoy gambling. The state where you live should give you a tax credit for the taxes you pay to the other state. You'll also have to provide your Social Security number or, if you have one, an individual taxpayer identification number. You'll also have to sign the W-2G stating, under penalty of perjury, that the information listed on the form is correct. It's a slam dunk for IRS auditors if you claim more losses than winnings. Toggle navigation Menu Subscribers Log In. Sporadic activities or hobbies don't qualify as a business. However, if you're lucky enough to win some cash from a smart bet, don't forget that Uncle Sam wants his cut, too. But if your bet was just a friendly wager with a friend … well, don't count on it. Your reportable winnings will be listed in Box 1 of the W-2G form. Gambling winnings and losses must be reported separately. Since the tax reform law basically doubled the standard deduction, most people aren't going to itemize anymore. If you win a non-cash prize, such as a car or a trip, report its fair market value as income. For example, hold on to all W-2G forms, wagering tickets, canceled checks, credit records, bank withdrawals, and statements of actual winnings or payment slips provided by casinos. Remember, casual gamblers can only claim losses as itemized deductions on Schedule A up to the amount of their winnings. Special withholding rules apply for winnings from bingo, keno, slot machines and poker tournaments. You should also keep other items as proof of gambling winnings and losses. Be careful if you're deducting losses on Schedule C , too. The amount withheld will be listed in Box 4 of the W-2G form you'll receive. New casinos and sports betting parlors are popping up across the country, Las Vegas is thriving, lotteries are popular and online gambling is big. It will be subtracted from the tax you owe. However, if you travel to another state to plunk down a bet, you might be surprised to learn that the other state wants to tax your winnings, too. The state where you live generally taxes all your income—including gambling winnings. If you don't, the tax man isn't going to be happy about it. When you file your next year, include the amount withheld on line 17 as federal income tax withheld. So the IRS is expecting you to claim those winnings on your tax return. You'll also have to attach the W-2G form to your return. The IRS isn't hunting down small-time winners, but you still don't want to think of yourself as a tax cheat. One of them must be a photo ID. If you were totally down on your luck and had absolutely no gambling winnings for the year, you can't deduct any of your losses. Check with your state tax department for the rules where you live. Deducting large gambling losses can also raise red flags at the IRS. If you look carefully at Form W-2G you'll notice that there are boxes for reporting state and local winnings and withholding. Gambling losses include the actual cost of wagers plus related expenses, such as travel to and from a casino. First, unless you're a professional gambler more on that in a second , you have to itemize in order to deduct gambling losses itemized deductions are claimed on Schedule A. If a W-2G is required, the payer sports betting parlor, casino, racetrack, etc. Store Podcasts Log in Search Close. In some cases, you'll get the W-2G on the spot. Tax Tips for Gambling Winnings and Losses.