Will Latest Group Lottery Winner Be Affected by Taxes?

shutterstock_265830683

 

There is nothing quite like winning the lottery. In almost all cases lotto winners go from rags to riches overnight. There is definitely a thrill and exhilaration that comes with becoming an instant multi-millionaire. Who wouldn’t want to win the lottery? Hold that thought. Winning the lottery comes with several possible catches that could lead to tax trouble. In fact, for some lottery winners, the tax fallout is a real nightmare.

The tax headache can be especially big when several people decide to purchase lottery tickets together, as a group, which is exactly what happened to some recent lottery winners in Tennessee. Twenty co-workers won a $420.9 million Powerball jackpot in November, with the lump sum payment being $254 million. Split evenly, each winner will receive $12.7 million before taxes.

However, the first question that must be answered is could this group be considered a real partnership? The 20 winners have been pooling their money together for eight years, so it’s a legitimate question. It’s also an important one as it could make a big difference in how they report it and their overall tax bill.

Another question is could their agreement be viewed as a trust? If the IRS considers it a grantor trust it’s simply taxed as a flow-through. However, if it is a more complex trust that is taxed the same as a corporation the tax headache can be huge and expensive. So, what should you do if you become an instant millionaire? If you ever end up choosing the right numbers, the smartest thing to do is talk with a qualified tax professional before you even collect the money. This will help you avoid several possible headaches.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2016/12/01/20-plant-workers-420-million-powerball-win-cleverly-misses-tax-mess/#3a6f0e555f29

Posted in

International Tax Treaties

International Tax Treaties Guidance: Commencement of Application of the New Tax Convention between the United States and Japan Tax Treaty with Italy – Technical Explanation The complete texts of the following income tax treaties and corresponding technical explanations are available in Adobe PDF format. Please read the entire document (Treaty as well as any subsequent…

Player Salaries Could Be Huge Tax Break for New NBA Owner

Player Salaries Could Be Huge Tax Break for New NBA Owner

Player Salaries Could Be Huge Tax Break for New NBA Owner The ultra-wealthy have a lot of options when it comes to spending their money. Lavish houses, huge properties, remote islands, expensive yachts and exotic cars are just a few of their choices. Of course, like most anyone, the extremely wealthy are always looking to…

income tax

Tax Planning and Income Tax Return Preparation Services

Tax Planning and Income Tax Return Preparation Services Greenstein Rogoff Olsen & Co. is a full service provider of tax services and offers solutions to clients in the Corporate, Estate and Trust, Individual, Limited Liability Company, Not for Profit, Tax Exempt, Partnership, and S Corporation income tax areas. The primary objective of our tax services…

CEO leadership; §1031 EXCHANGES COMBINED WITH SELLER CARRYBACK NOTES

§1031 Exchanges Combined with Seller Carryback Notes

§1031 Exchanges Combined with Seller Carryback Notes By Steve Chacon Occasionally sellers are approached with the request they carry back an installment note to finance the purchase. Not a bad idea from a “big picture” perspective, as seller financing has been effective in environments where credit is a concern and interest rates are rising. But…