Will Latest Group Lottery Winner Be Affected by Taxes?
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
Tax Education Expense
Tax Education Expense Attention engineers!! You may be able to deduct the cost of your tuition spent on your MBA degree. In order to do so, you must connect your MBA degree with a business purpose and it cannot qualify you for a new line of work. The current tax code gives tax breaks to…
Four Types of Income Tax Exclusions
Four Types of Income Tax Exclusions We are all interested in saving taxes. Through effective tax planning, you can preserve more of your wealth (or wealth that passes to your heirs) through eliminating income taxes on the gain. There are four types of income that may be excluded permanently. Income Exclusion #1 – Excluding Gain…
The Research and Development Tax Credit: Claim What You Deserve
The Research and Development Tax Credit: Claim What You Deserve By Shane T. Frank Many manufacturers are not aware that federal and state research and development (R&D) tax credit programs exist that may reward their day-to-day efforts aimed at producing a more efficient product. The Research and Development Tax Credit is a government-sponsored benefit that…
8 Rules of Building Wealth
8 Rules of Building Wealth Forget Performance; look at fees! Remember that it’s not what you make, it’s what you keep. When evaluating an investment evaluate the cost to generate an investment return. If you are using an investment manager compare the performance of the investment net of fees. Be careful when entering into non-tradition…