Tax info
Mega Millions tax by state
The same ticket is worth very different amounts depending on where it was bought. On the current $261,000,000 jackpot the gap between the best state and the worst is $12,155,000 on the cash option alone.
Best
Alaska
$69,665,000
Worst
Hawaii
$57,510,000
Federal, everywhere
37%
plus 24% withheld up front
Every state, worked at $261,000,000
Take home after federal tax at the full 37% and the state's own rate, on the $110,500,000 cash option and on the thirty year annuity. Sorted by what the cash option leaves you.
| State | State rate | Lump sum take home | Annuity take home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaskano state lottery | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| California | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| Florida | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| Nevadano state lottery | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| New Hampshire | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| South Dakota | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| Tennessee | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| Texas | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| Washington | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| Wyoming | 0% | $69,665,000 | $165,929,993 | 37.0% |
| Arizona | 2.5% | $66,902,500 | $159,404,993 | 39.5% |
| North Dakota | 2.5% | $66,902,500 | $159,404,993 | 39.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% | $66,272,650 | $157,917,293 | 40.0% |
| Indiana | 3.15% | $66,184,250 | $157,708,493 | 40.1% |
| Ohio | 3.5% | $65,797,500 | $156,794,993 | 40.5% |
| Iowa | 3.8% | $65,466,000 | $156,011,993 | 40.8% |
| Kentucky | 4% | $65,245,000 | $155,489,993 | 41.0% |
| Mississippi | 4% | $65,245,000 | $155,489,993 | 41.0% |
| Louisiana | 4.25% | $64,968,750 | $154,837,493 | 41.2% |
| Michigan | 4.25% | $64,968,750 | $154,837,493 | 41.2% |
| North Carolina | 4.25% | $64,968,750 | $154,837,493 | 41.2% |
| Arkansas | 4.4% | $64,803,000 | $154,445,993 | 41.4% |
| Colorado | 4.4% | $64,803,000 | $154,445,993 | 41.4% |
| Utahno state lottery | 4.65% | $64,526,750 | $153,793,492 | 41.6% |
| Oklahoma | 4.75% | $64,416,250 | $153,532,492 | 41.7% |
| Missouri | 4.8% | $64,361,000 | $153,401,993 | 41.8% |
| West Virginia | 4.82% | $64,338,900 | $153,349,793 | 41.8% |
| Illinois | 4.95% | $64,195,250 | $153,010,492 | 41.9% |
| Georgia | 4.99% | $64,151,050 | $152,906,093 | 41.9% |
| Alabamano state lottery | 5% | $64,140,000 | $152,879,993 | 42.0% |
| Massachusetts | 5% | $64,140,000 | $152,879,993 | 42.0% |
| Kansas | 5.2% | $63,919,000 | $152,357,993 | 42.2% |
| Nebraska | 5.2% | $63,919,000 | $152,357,993 | 42.2% |
| South Carolina | 5.21% | $63,907,950 | $152,331,893 | 42.2% |
| Virginia | 5.75% | $63,311,250 | $150,922,492 | 42.7% |
| Idaho | 5.8% | $63,256,000 | $150,791,993 | 42.8% |
| Montana | 5.9% | $63,145,500 | $150,530,993 | 42.9% |
| New Mexico | 5.9% | $63,145,500 | $150,530,993 | 42.9% |
| Rhode Island | 5.99% | $63,046,050 | $150,296,093 | 42.9% |
| Delaware | 6.6% | $62,372,000 | $148,703,993 | 43.6% |
| Connecticut | 6.99% | $61,941,050 | $147,686,093 | 43.9% |
| Maine | 7.15% | $61,764,250 | $147,268,493 | 44.1% |
| Wisconsin | 7.65% | $61,211,750 | $145,963,493 | 44.6% |
| Maryland | 8.75% | $59,996,250 | $143,092,493 | 45.7% |
| Vermont | 8.75% | $59,996,250 | $143,092,493 | 45.7% |
| Minnesota | 9.85% | $58,780,750 | $140,221,493 | 46.8% |
| Oregon | 9.9% | $58,725,500 | $140,090,993 | 46.9% |
| District of Columbia | 10.75% | $57,786,250 | $137,872,493 | 47.7% |
| New Jersey | 10.75% | $57,786,250 | $137,872,493 | 47.7% |
| New York | 10.9%plus 3.876% in New York City | $57,620,500 | $137,480,993 | 47.9% |
| Hawaiino state lottery | 11% | $57,510,000 | $137,219,993 | 48.0% |
Where the tax is actually owed
The state that sold the ticket taxes the prize, and your home state taxes your income. Most states credit what you already paid elsewhere so the same money is not taxed twice, but the rates differ and the paperwork is real. If you bought the ticket outside the state you live in, this is the point to bring in a tax professional rather than a calculator.
State rates are compiled from published 2026 guidance and are being checked against each state's own revenue department. Treat them as close rather than final, and confirm your own state before you act on a figure.