Powerball Calculator

What is Powerball?

Powerball is a popular American lottery game available in multiple states. The game requires participants to pick five main numbers plus an additional bonus number called the "Powerball" with the hope of correctly matching all numbers to win the jackpot prize. If you won a prize in the Powerball lottery, you might be wondering how much money you would actually receive and whether to choose a lump-sum or annuity payout. The Powerball calculator (also serving as a Powerball payout calculator or a lottery lump sum vs. annuity calculator) can help you make an informed decision on the best financial option for your winnings.

How to Use the Powerball Calculator

To use the Powerball calculator, you will need to input a few variables:

How much did you win?: Enter the Powerball jackpot you would like to analyze.
What is your filing status?: Select how you file your taxes (e.g., single or married filing jointly).
Where do you live?: Choose your state of residence to determine the applicable state tax rate.

The calculator will then provide you with a tabulated overview of the gross payout, federal taxes, state taxes, and net payout that applies to your winnings if you choose a lump sum payout or an annuity payout. You can also find the yearly annuity payouts in the payout schedule.

An Actual Example to Demonstrate the Calculator

Let's say you won a $100 million Powerball jackpot and you are filing taxes as a single person living in California. Enter these details into the Powerball calculator, and you will see the following results:

Lump Sum Payout:
- Gross Payout: $52,000,000
- Federal Taxes: $27,452,000
- State Taxes: $0
- Net Payout: $24,548,000
Annuity Payout:
- Year 1:
  - Gross Payout: $1,758,620
  - Federal Taxes: $920,564
  - State Taxes: $0
  - Net Payout: $838,056
- Year 2:
  - Gross Payout: $1,846,551
  - Federal Taxes: $964,794
  - State Taxes: $0
  - Net Payout: $881,757