Submitted By: someone
Answered: January 20, 2020 9:32 pm

I won some lottery money. What can I deduct?

You cannot simply net your gambling losses against your winnings. You must report all of the lottery money as income. Then, if you itemize personal deductions (using Schedule A) instead of claiming the standard deduction, you can deduct gambling losses as an “other” itemized deduction. Such losses are not limited to what you spent on lottery tickets; they include all gambling losses (e.g., horse racing, bingo) that you can prove, but the total deduction for gambling losses cannot exceed the gambling winnings you report.

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Tax Glossary

Adjusted gross income (AGI)

Gross income less allowable adjustments, such as IRA, alimony, and Keogh deductions. AGI determines whether various tax benefits are phased out, such as personal exemptions, itemized deductions, and the rental loss allowance and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI).

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