Gamblers understand the concept of win some, lose some. But the IRS? It prefers exact numbers. Specifically, your tax return should reflect your total year’s gambling winnings – from the big blackjack score to the smaller fantasy football payout. That’s because you’re required to report each stroke of luck as taxable income — big or small, buddy or casino.

If you itemize your deductions, you can offset your winnings by writing off your gambling losses.

It may sound complicated, but TaxAct will walk you through the entire process, start to finish. That way, you leave nothing on the table.

Winnings from gambling can be taxable and should be reported on your tax return. Winnings may be reported on a W2-G. However, if you itemize deductions on the schedule A, then you may deduct gambling losses only up to the amount of the winnings claimed on your tax return. Remember to keep proof of your losses. $1,200 or more (not reduced by wager) in winnings from bingo or slot machines; $1,500 or more in winnings (reduced by wager) from keno; More than $5,000 in winnings (reduced by the wager or buy-in) from a poker tournament; Any winnings subject to a federal income-tax withholding requirement; If your winnings are reported on a Form W-2G, federal. $1,200 or more at bingo or on a slot machine; $1,500 or more at keno; $5,000 or more in a poker tournament. Table games in a casino, such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, or craps are exempt from the W-2G rule. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to claim the income and pay taxes on it if your winnings aren’t enough to warrant the tax form.

How much can I deduct in gambling losses?

You can report as much as you lost in 2019 , but you cannot deduct more than you won. And you can only do this if you’re itemizing your deductions. If you’re taking the standard deduction, you aren’t eligible to deduct your gambling losses on your tax return, but you are still required to report all of your winnings.

Where do I file this on my tax forms?

Let’s say you took two trips to Vegas this year. In Trip A, you won $6,000 in poker. In the Trip B, you lost $8,000. You must list each individually, with the winnings noted on your return as taxable income and the loss as an itemized deduction in Schedule A. In this instance, you won’t owe tax on your winnings because your total loss is greater than your total win by $2,000. However, you do not get to deduct that net $2,000 loss, only the first $6,000.

Now, let’s flip those numbers. Say in Trip A, you won $8,000 in poker. In Trip B, you lost $6,000. You’ll report the $8,000 win on your return, the $6,000 loss deduction on Schedule A, and still owe taxes on the remaining $2,000 of your winnings.

What’s a W-2G? And should I have one?

A W-2G is an official withholding document; it’s typically issued by a casino or other professional gaming organization. You may receive a W-2G onsite when your payout is issued. Or, you may receive one in the mail after the fact. Gaming centers must issue W-2Gs by January 31. When they send yours, they also shoot a copy to the IRS, so don’t roll the dice: report those winnings as taxable income.

Don’t expect to get a W-2G for the $6 you won playing the Judge Judy slot machine. Withholding documents are triggered by amount of win and type of game played.

Expect to receive a W-2G tax form if you won:

• $1,200 or more on slots or bingo
• $1,500 or more on keno
• $5,000 or more in poker
• $600 or more on other games, but only if the payout is at least 300 times your wager

Tip: Withholding only applies to your net winnings, which is your payout minus your initial wager.

What kinds of records should I keep?

Keep a journal with lists, including: each place you’ve gambled; the day and time; who was with you; and how much you bet, won, and lost. You should also keep receipts, payout slips, wagering tickets, bank withdrawal records, and statements of actual winnings. You may also write off travel expenses associated with loss, so hang on to airfare receipts.

Use TaxAct to file your gambling wins and losses. We’ll help you find every advantage you’re owed – guaranteed.

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Tips for Claiming Tax Back from US Casino Winnings

How Much Tax On Slot Machine Winnings

You won big in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, or one of the other gaming destinations in the U.S. Once you win a jackpot, you’re faced with a very unpleasant revelation: you are immediately taxed on your winnings. However, Refund Management Services advises that there is a way to get all or a portion of your taxes back from the IRS.

You can win a lot of money gambling in the United States. Of course, that means you’re also subjected to a casino winnings tax.

If you’ve made a trip to the U.S. and your gaming winnings are high enough or you win a prize and take the cash equivalent, the IRS will deduct 30% off of your winnings. Nobody wants Uncle Sam to withhold their winnings.

Still, there’s no reason to avoid the gaming tournaments or slots when you’re south of the border. Here is what you need to know about before you travel to the US to gamble and how to claim and get tax back from us casino winnings.

• Once your US casino winnings pass a certain threshold (which differs by casino, but is often $1,199) you will be subject to withholding tax. When this happens, you will be issued a W2-G or 1042-S slip.
• Don’t wait more than three years to claim gaming winnings on a tax return; that said, if you’ve won in the current year, we will be filing a claim at the beginning of the next calendar year. Most of our customers typically contact us within a few days of returning to Canada or their country of origin, so we can begin preparing the paperwork for them to get the refund that is rightfully theirs. If you delay submitting your claim, you won’t be entitled to a refund after 3 years.
• Keep track of all your US wins and losses every time you go, reporting your losses will maximize your return.
• It’s not just US casino winnings that are taxed, other gaming activities can be taxed like lotteries, raffles, and races.
• Remember that you can also claim taxed gaming winnings on a variety of games, such as lotteries, raffles, and horse races.
• When it comes to getting tax back from US casino winnings, you have a few options:

How To Get Tax Back From US Casino Winnings

Nearly four million gamblers win big in gambling cities across the U.S. and the IRS deducts taxes from all of them. However, as a non-resident of the U.S., there is a way to get your casino winnings back from the U.S. by hiring Refund Management Services to go through the process of obtaining a casino winning tax refund from the IRS. RMS is the easiest way to get your money back.

If you win $1,199.00 or more, contact Refund Management Services and we will obtain your taxed gaming winnings by filing a tax return. Take the stress out of the process by letting our trained experts handle it for you!

At the end of the day you have two options:

Option 1: Claim Tax Back from US Casino Winnings On Your Own

It is possible to file your own withholding tax return. While this may save you a small amount of money, it is only advised if you feel confident in your withholding tax filing skills. Much like your annual tax return, with so many opportunities to leave money on the table or make costly mistakes, claiming tax back from US casino winnings on your own can leave you in a costly position. Every year we deal with clients who have been denied their withholding tax refund by the IRS after filing independently. It is complicated, time consuming, and expensive to appeal this decision, so it’s often not worth the risk.

Option 2: Use a Withholding Tax Refund Professional

These folks make it their business to get your tax back from US casino winnings. Although there is a fee associated to using a withholding tax professional, they will ensure you don’t make any costly mistakes. To make sure you make the right choice, look for the following in your withholding tax professional:

1. Relationships with Casinos & Gaming establishments:

To start your claim process, you will need the IRS form 1042 from the casino you were playing in. If you misplaced it, that won’t be a problem for a reputable withholding tax refund professional since their relationship will allow them to easily recover it from the casino you were playing in. Even if you haven’t misplaced your form 1042, this is still a good quality to look for in your withholding tax refund professional.

2. Honest About Your Refund Timing

Although speed is of the essence when you’re looking to get your refund, due to the IRS wait times it is important to know that you’ll be waiting 6 months at a minimum but usually a full year before receiving your US casino winnings tax back. This is AFTER the claim is submitted. Any agency that tells you you could receive your US casino winnings tax back sooner is being misleading to get your business.

3. Agent of the IRS

Agents of the IRS are people or companies that are allowed to certify your ID, a requirement when claiming tax back from US casino winnings. This means one less chore for you when making your claim.

4. Excellent Track Record For Claim Approvals

The firm you use to claim tax back from your US casino winnings should boast at least a near perfect record when it comes to rightful claim approvals.

5. Owned and Operated by a Canadian Chartered Accountant

When claiming your tax back from US casino winnings, ensure the withholding tax specialist is a Canadian chartered accountant. This ensures your return is being handled by people with the appropriate expertise to be handling taxes. It will also provide you with insurance that your sensitive information will be handled professionally.

6. A Withholding Tax Industry Veteran

We are the longest standing withholding tax agency in the industry for a reason. Avoid leaving your refund in the hands of someone less experienced by choosing a withholding tax specialist who is tried, tested, and true.

7. Makes Casino Winnings Tax Refunds Easy

If you find you’re filling out multiple forms, your withholding tax professional is not earning their fee. The point to using a service when getting tax back from casino winnings is that they do all the leg work and make sure it’s done right.

How Much Tax Is Taken From Slot Machine Winnings Jackpot

RMS is the leading provider of withholding tax services for non-US residents. Learn why RMS is the right choice for claiming tax back from your US casino winnings and apply now for free.