Winnings are fully taxable and, within limits, gambling losses are deductible.
Payers of winnings from horse racing, dog racing, bingo games, and lotteries must report winnings of more than $600 to the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Revenue by filing form W-2G. Winnings of $1,200 or more from slot machines are reported on form W-2G.
The winner's name and Social Security Number are required on the W-2G form.
Taxpayers report their gambling winnings on the IA 1040. If federal tax is taken out of your winnings, you may claim a deduction for it on the "federal income tax withheld" line on the IA 1040.
Even if your Iowa-source income is less than the amount required to file a return, you may want to file an Iowa return if Iowa tax has been withheld from your winnings. You may be eligible for a refund of the tax withheld on your winnings. You cannot receive a refund unless you file a return.
Can Losses be Deducted?
Gambling losses can be deducted up to the amount of winnings. If you itemize, you may claim gambling losses as a miscellaneous deduction on Schedule A. However, this deduction cannot be more than your winnings.
For example, if your gambling winnings for the year are $1,000, your deduction for gambling losses cannot exceed $1,000.
Taxpayers who claim the standard deduction on the Iowa return cannot deduct their gambling losses, although they must still report gambling winnings.
Out-of-state Winnings
Iowa residents who have winnings from gambling in another state may have to file an income tax return with the other state and pay tax on the winnings.
These winnings are also taxable to Iowa. However, the Iowa resident may claim an out-of-state tax credit on the IA 130 of the IA 1040 for the tax paid to the other state.
Winnings in the Form of Noncash Payments
Proceeds from gambling activities which are not money, such as a car in a sweepstakes, shall be taken into account at the fair market value (“FMV”) of the noncash payment for purposes of reporting and withholding. If the FMV exceeds $600, after deducting the price of the wager, the winnings are subject to a 5% Iowa withholding rate regardless of whether the prize is subject to federal withholding. Federal withholding is not required until the noncash payment exceeds $5,000, then the federal withholding rate of 24% also applies. The Iowa tax that must be withheld is computed and paid under either of the following two methods:
1. The winner pays the withholding tax to the payer. In this case, no adjustment to the noncash payment is necessary.
2. The payer pays the withholding tax. In this case, the value of the noncash payment must be increased to account for the withholding tax the payer pays. The withholding is calculated as follows:
- For noncash payments that exceed $600 but are not greater than $5,000, figure the value of the noncash payments as follows:
Noncash payment = (FMV of the noncash payment − the amount of the wager)/ (1 − Iowa income tax withholding percentage)
- For noncash payments of $5,001 or more, figure the value of the noncash payments as follows:
Noncash payment = (FMV of the noncash payment − the amount of the wager)/(1 − (federal income tax withholding percentage + Iowa income tax withholding percentage))
NOTE: If you use the second method, enter the adjusted noncash payment amount in Box 1 of federal Form W-2G: Certain Gambling Winnings. Enter the federal withholding tax paid by the payer in Box 4, and the state income tax withholding paid by the payer in Box 15. State winnings reported in Box 14 will be the same as Box 1.
Example 1: In 2020, Taxpayer A pays $10 for a raffle ticket and wins a television with a FMV of $1,010. The first step is to calculate the net winnings which will equal the FMV of the noncash payment minus the amount of the wager, or ($1,010 − $10) = $1,000. The next step is to calculate the income tax withholding, which is computed under either of the following methods:
- The winner pays the withholding tax to the payer. Taxpayer A must pay the payer $50 of Iowa income tax withholding ($1,000 × 5%). The payer must timely remit the income tax withholding. Taxpayer A will receive a W-2G reporting $1,000 of winnings and Iowa withholding of $50. Taxpayer A will not have any federal income tax withholding because A’s net winnings do not exceed $5,000.
- The payer pays the withholding tax. In this case, calculate the adjusted noncash payment.
Noncash payment = (FMV of the noncash payment − the amount of the wager)/(1 − Iowa income tax withholding percentage)
Noncash payment = ($1,010 − $10)/(1 − 0.05)
Noncash payment = $1,000/0.95
Noncash payment = $1,052.63
Iowa withholding = (noncash payment × Iowa income tax withholding percentage) = ($1,052.63 × 5%) = $53 (Rounded)
Taxpayer A will receive a W-2G for reporting $1,052.63 of winnings and Iowa withholding of $53. Taxpayer A will not have any federal income tax withholding because A’s net winnings do not exceed $5,000.
Example 2: In 2020, Taxpayer B pays $100 for a raffle ticket and wins a motorcycle with a FMV of $10,100. The first step is to calculate the net winnings which will equal the FMV of the noncash payment minus the amount of the wager, or ($10,100 − $100) = $10,000. The next step is to calculate the income tax withholding, which is computed under either of the following methods:
- The winner pays the withholding tax to the payer. Taxpayer B must pay the payer $2,400 of federal income tax withholding ($10,000 × 24%) and $500 of Iowa income tax withholding ($10,000 × 5%) for a total of $2,900. The payer must timely remit the total income tax withholding. Taxpayer B will receive a W-2G reporting $10,000 of winnings, federal withholding of $2,400, and Iowa withholding of $500.
- The payer pays the withholding tax. In this case, calculate the amount of the adjusted noncash payment.
Noncash payment = (FMV of the noncash payment − the amount of the wager)/(1 − (federal income tax withholding percentage + Iowa income tax withholding percentage))
Noncash payment = ($10,100 − $100)/(1 − (0.24 + 0.05))
Noncash payment = $10,000/(1 − 0.29)
Noncash payment = $10,000/0.71
Noncash payment = $14,084.51
Iowa withholding = (noncash payment × Iowa income tax withholding percentage) = ($14,084.51 × 5%) = $704 (Rounded)
Federal withholding = (noncash payment × federal income tax withholding percentage) = ($14,084.51 × 24%) = $3,380.28 (Rounded)
Taxpayer B will receive a W-2G for reporting $14,084.51 of winnings, federal withholding of $3,380.28, and Iowa withholding of $704.
Keeping Records
An accurate diary or similar record of gambling winnings and losses must be kept along with tickets, receipts, canceled checks, and other documentation. These supporting records do not need to be sent in with your tax return, but should be retained in case of an audit.
See Federal Publication 529 for more information.