If you've recently won a Michigan Lottery prize,
congratulations!
We like to hear from winners and want to help you claim
your prize. The following page will hopefully answer any questions you
have, but if not, please call Public Relations at (517) 373-1237, or e-mail us
and we'll find you an answer as soon as we can.
Instructions for Different Prize Levels
Depending on which game you've
played, there are different validation periods in which your prize can be
claimed. For Michigan Lottery on-line games (Mega Millions, Classic Lotto 47,
Fantasy 5, Keno, Daily 3, Daily 4, Millionaire Raffle and Super Raffle), your prize must be claimed within one year of the drawing date. For
Michigan Lottery instant games, your prize must be claimed by the expiration
date for that particular game. Because there
are so many instant games introduced each year, make sure to check the back of
your ticket for the specific expiration date. See the Instant
Game Validation List for details.
Prizes Up to $600
Cash prizes worth up to
$600 may be claimed at any Michigan Lottery retailer. There are nearlly
11,000 licensed Lottery retailers throughout the state, in every
county. If you're having difficulty locating a retailer near you, please
call the Public Relations office at (517) 373-1237.
Please bear in mind that
while most Lottery retailers will gladly redeem winning tickets for their
customers, they are under no legal obligation to do so. Some stores have
strict policies regarding the amount of cash available to the employees, so
there is a possibility a store may be unable to redeem your prize-winning
ticket. Most customers simply visit their favorite stores and redeem
tickets there.
Prizes Up to $50,000
Cash prizes up to $50,000 may be claimed at any
Lottery regional office. There are offices in Detroit, Lansing,
Saginaw, Wyoming,
Sterling Heights and Dearborn Heights.
In addition, the Lottery
has partnered with a number of banks in the northern Lower Peninsula and the
Upper Peninsula in order to serve players in that part of the state.
Chances are one is located near you, so please call the Public Relations
office at (517) 373-1237 so we can put you in touch with the location nearest
you.
Winners will need to have a picture
identification, such as a driver's license, and Social Security card in order to
claim their prize.
Prizes Over $50,000
Due to strict security and validation procedures, Michigan Lottery
winners of prizes greater than $50,000 are required to claim their prize at
Lottery
headquarters at 101 E. Hillsdale in Lansing. We are just one block north
of I-496 in downtown Lansing.
Generally, it's best if
winners call Public Relations at (517) 373-1237 so that we can pre-validate your
ticket and schedule an appointment for you. We do accept walk-in winners
for high-tier prizes, but the unannounced visit may result in a lengthier
processing time.
Winners will need to have a picture identification, such as a
driver's license, and Social Security card in order to claim their prize.
Requesting Information Via Mail
In some cases, Michigan Lottery prizes can be claimed by mail.
To claim a prize by mail you will need to send a request for payment including
your name, address and signed ticket along with a copy of your Social Security
card and photo identification, such as a driver's license or State of Michigan
identification card to the following address:
Michigan Lottery
Fund Accounting
101 E. Hillsdale
Lansing, MI 48909
Tax Information on Michigan Lottery Prizes
Michigan Lottery prizes are subject to federal, state and local
income taxes. You may be required to make estimated tax payments by filing
a form 1040ES with the Internal Revenue Service. If you have questions
regarding income tax, please contact the Internal Revenue Service
at (800) 829-1040, the
Michigan Department of Treasury at (800)
827-4000, or your local
taxing authority.
The Michigan Lottery provides winning Lottery clubs with a blank
form 5754. Lottery clubs must submit a completed form 5754 within 30 days of prize
payment, except for clubs claiming in December, which must provide a completed 5754 form
by January 7 of the following year.
All winners claiming individual prizes
of more than $600 will receive a W-2G form in mid-January for the purposes of
completing their yearly tax return.
Following are some additional facts on Lottery withholding
guidelines:
Prizes
up to $600: The Lottery does not withhold any taxes.
Prizes
from $601 to $5,000: The Lottery does not withhold
any taxes but is required to report the lottery winnings to the IRS and Michigan
Department of Treasury. The winner will then be required to report the
income in the tax year it is won.
Prizes
over $5,000: For any Michigan Lottery prize over $5,000, the
Lottery is generally required to withhold an estimated 25 percent in federal tax
and 4.35 percent in state tax. These withholdings do not
necessarily satisfy a winner's tax liability; they are simply estimates.
We recommend that all winners contact the IRS, Michigan Department of Treasury
and trusted tax professionals to determine whether additional tax payments will
be required.
Non-Michigan
U.S. residents: All prizes over $5,000 are subject to 25 percent
federal tax and 4.35 percent state tax withholding regardless of the state of
residence. Questions regarding this
state tax withholding should be directed to the Michigan Department of Treasury,
taxpayer assistance division.
Non-U.S.
residents: Players who win a Michigan Lottery prize
greater than $600 and do not live in the United States are subject to a
30 percent federal tax withholding rate as well as the 4.35 percent state
withholding rate.
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