Forgot To Claim Gambling Winnings On Taxes

  
Taxes

If your return is rejected, you will be able to go into your account and make the necessary changes to your tax return and re-submit your return. If the IRS accepts your return, however, then you have to wait longer until it has been fully processed and you have received your refund. THEN you can prepare an amended tax return and mail it in. Taxes also might be withheld on winnings less than $5,000 in certain situations, such as if the amount won is 300 times the original bet (i.e., a $600 win on a $2 bet). I forgot to file gambling winnings 2014, however I have proof that I lost more than I won. The IRS is now penalizing - Answered by a verified Tax Professional We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website.

Inrecent times, the number of people who travel to gambling centers orregions where gambling is a lucrative business is on the high side.Reno and some cities of Las Vegas welcome several travelers for thispurpose.

Justso you know, if you win big while gambling, you do not get to keepevery cent to yourself. Now someone is asking, why? Well, gamblingwinnings are taxable! …it’s as simple as that!

So,just before you embark on any journey for the sole aim of gambling,take some lessons on tax laws relating to gambling and be sure tounderstand every piece of information you find therein just so youavoid the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its stress.

A little explanation of why gambling income is taxable.

Forgot To Claim Gambling Winnings On Taxes Electronically

Now,you’ll ask … “is gambling income taxable?” well, don’tstress it, the answer is not far- fetched!

Yes!Gambling income is taxable and just before the smiles on your facedisappears into thin air, there is good news for you as an earner…hang in there!

Unlikenormal income taxes, taxes placed on gambling are constant. That is,not progressive.

So,you have nothing to worry about. Be it winning a $3 million at thepoker table or $1500 at the slot machine. So, when you hit a big one,25% of your big win is to go to whichever game you play.

Plus,you will be provided with an IRS form which is also known as a W2-Gto enable you to report your earnings and winnings to the government.Keep in mind that this threshold depends on the type of game.

Anothersuitable question to ask is this, “do these games report theirgambling earnings? Definitely!

Aquick look at some examples; for specificity, in the casino, in orderfor your winnings to be reported, there is one inevitable thresholdthat should be declined.

Forgot to claim gambling winnings on taxes separately

Anotherexample is the slot machines; for winnings above $1200, it isrequired of you to report them.

Forthat of horse tracks, winnings that are greater than $600 or that are300 times your initial wager must be reported.

Thecase is not different for bingo as it is similar to the slot machine.Every winning from $1200 should be reported.

Thepoker tournament is no different as every winnings Greater than $5000must be reported.

Claim

Inspite of all these, it is not required of Casinos to hold taxes orissue a W2-G that was mentioned earlier in this article to playerswho win big amounts at some table games. For example, roulette,blackjack, craps.

Thereason for this kind of segregated requirement made by the IRS isunknown to us perhaps but known to them.

Froma well-observed point of view, in the table games, a level of skillis required whereas the slot machines are merely a game of chance.So, it is not expected of casinos to ascertain for sure the amountyou begin with when you cash in your chips from a table game.

Nowyou ask, “What happens when a W2-G is not sent to me or whathappens when I do not get a notification? Your question might also beasked in this form… What happens if my taxes are being withheldfrom blackjack winnings?

Beforeyou raise your hands high in the air while smiling thinking you canoutsmart all these, just a gentle reminder, not receiving a W2-G formor having withheld taxes does not relieve you of your duties toreport whatever is been won to the IRS.

Thenext question that should readily come to mind is “what should Ido in cases like this?” It’s simple! Do it yourself! You willsave yourself a whole lot of mess by filing your taxes alongside yourother taxes for the year rather than at the casino where you claimyour winnings.

Forgot To Claim Gambling Winnings On Taxes Jointly

Now,someone is saying, “oh! I’m a professional gambler, gambling iswhat I do for a living, mine is quite different, how do I report mytax?”

Ifgambling happens to be your real profession then, your revenue willbe tagged as regular earned income hence, it will be taxed at thenormal effective income tax rate of a taxpayer.

Keepin mind that your income and expenses compulsorily must be recordedon Schedule C, if you are self-employed.

Hereis a poser. Ever wondered if individual states tax gambling winnings?Well, to answer the poser, certainly, they do.

Insome states, it is required of gambling winners to claim theirwinnings in the state where they were won irrespective of your placeof domicile. Also, your state of residence will require you to reportyour winnings but, at the same time give a deduction for the taxesthat have already been paid in the non- resident state.

Seemslike we are missing out on something really important which happensto be our big question for this article.

Everthought of what will happen if you do not report your gamblingwinnings? Well, enough of the rambles and mumbles as your eye-rollinghas confirmed the answer. Well, we know it’s a “No” simplybecause when that thought crossed your mind, you waved it off withthe back of your hands.

But,guess what? Dust your rackets as we will be hitting off some balls ofquestions as regards that.

Itis quite easy to shrug off the idea of reporting your gamblingearnings whenever that thought creeps into mind because we all wantto enjoy our bucks without any external force trying to snatch itfrom us.

Sosad! Now might not be a perfect time to let that slide as you do notwant to get involved with the IRS. Bet it could get messier thanimagined.

Aswe all know that the most difficult thing in the world to understand,as stated by Albert Einstein, is the concept of income taxes.

However,it is pertinent that you report the full amount of your gamblingwinnings as “other income” on line 21 of form 1040 asstated by the IRS. Also, you must distinctly claim your allowablegambling losses.

Itis unknown to many that the IRS does not permit reducing or netting,gambling winnings by gambling losses and just reporting thedifference. Well, it is considered that such a person owes the IRSback taxes, interest and penalties.

Justso you know, gambling losses up to your winnings must be claimed asan itemized deduction on Schedule A, under the heading “othermiscellaneous deductions”. Where the problem lies is that asidesnetting, there are more than 65% of taxpayers who don’t itemize theirdeductions and can’t deduct gambling losses pay more tax on grosswinnings than they won.

Besides,losses accumulated from gambling cannot be moved forward tocounterbalance winnings in another year.

Incase you haven’t heard, the IRS takes a hard line on gambling income.Hence, in an audit, without providing enough documentation, the agentwill fail to believe you’re losing all winnings. That is, you musthave sufficient documentation to prove your loss so, keep your losingtickets alongside all other important documents you’ve got.

Whatwill a proper record-keeping require of you?

Aproper record-keeping will require a date, the type of gamblingactivity or wager, the name of the gambling establishment, theaddress of the gambling business and the number, list of peoplepresent with you plus the inevitable, amount won or lost.

Insome cases, it will be of utmost importance for you to keepsupplements hotel bills, gas cards, and airline tickets just to provethat they were not part of ATM gambling funds.

Sometimes,the IRS fails to take into consideration the credibility of the ATMreceipts forgetting that the ATM cash receipt could have been used topurchase the nondeductible like cinema bills, spa treatment, salon,restaurant meals.

So,we urge you to input all the ATM funds received to fund the gamblingsessions as evidence for your gambling records.

Keepin mind that the IRS kicks against the player’s reward card as it ismost times an ingenuine way to prove gambling loses because othergamblers have used the card.

Youridentity and evidence that you were the only one using the cardshould all be in your gambling records.

Yourgambling log is being supported and given credibility by document andwin-loss reports. So, put your journal to substantiate the player’scard at every gamble.

Inconclusion, we urge you to be careful just in case because manystatements do not provide substantiative evidence simply becauseestimates are being used. Also, do not hesitate to report every ofyour gambling winnings.

Cheers!

onlinecasinoselite.org › Blog › US casino players - Tips to avoid troubles with the IRS

Forgot To Claim Gambling Winnings On Taxes Due

Forgot To Claim Gambling Winnings On Taxes Owed

Most gamblers hope to win money when they visit a casino, but many fail to think about the taxes they would have to pay on their winnings. Meet George and Frank, two American friends who spend a weekend gambling at the Las Vegas Bellagio. George wins $200 playing video roulette. Frank wins $1500 on a quarter slot machine (Play here). Both men make some significant financial mistakes that could get them into trouble with the IRS.

Mistake # 1 - Frank Fails to Pay Taxes on His Winnings

Before leaving the casino, Bellagio officials ask Frank to supply his Social Security number and fill out a W - 2G stating his $1500 winnings. When tax time rolls around, Frank forgets about the W – 2G and does not report the $1500 on his tax forms.

Could Frank Get in Trouble?

If Frank gets audited, he could indeed get in trouble with the IRS for failing to report his gambling income. Federal law mandates that slot machine winnings over $1200 must be reported to the IRS. The law also requires horse racing winnings over $600 and keno (click here) winnings over $1500 to be reported. Frank's legal obligation does not end with the W - 2G he filled out at the casino; he must also claim his winnings on Line 21 of his 1040. Failing to do this could result in stern penalties from the IRS.

What About George?

Bellagio officials did not ask George to fill out a W – 2G because his $200 earnings fell below the IRS threshold. Technically, however, he is supposed to claim his $200 winnings on Line 21 of his 1040 just like Frank. Unlike Frank, George stands little chance of getting caught if he fails to do this because there is no paper trail documenting his jackpot (read more). The only punishment George is likely to suffer is the discomfort of a guilty conscience.

If your winnings surpass the predetermined threshold, casino proprietors are required by law to have you fill out a W – 2G which reports your extra income. If you fail to submit this information to the IRS at tax time, government officials could catch a whiff of your paper trail and come after you. If your casino winnings do not surpass the predetermined threshold, you are still required by law to report the money, but without written evidence, the IRS stands little chance of catching you in your dishonesty.

Mistake # 2 - Frank Itemizes His $4000 Gambling Loss and Cheats Himself Out of the $5,950 Standard Deduction

Frank carefully records his losses at the Bellagio in a small notebook he keeps in his pocket. At the end of the weekend, he calculates a $4000 loss. When tax time rolls around, Frank itemizes this $4000 loss and feels like a tax-savvy gambling superstar. Unfortunately, the $4000 is Frank's only itemized deduction for the year and he's actually cheated himself out of a significant chunk of money. If Frank had bothered to do some research, he would have known that the standard deduction in 2012 is $5950. By itemizing only his $4000 loss at the Bellagio, Frank cheated himself out of an additional $1950 deduction.

The Moral of the Story

You can itemize gambling losses on your tax forms in order to recoup some of your lost money, but always find out what the standard deduction is first. You will only come out ahead if your itemized deductions add up to more than the standard deduction.

Mistake # 3 - George Itemizes His Gambling Losses, Which Are Greater Than His Winnings, and Gets in Trouble

After examining the pocketful of ATM receipts he accumulated while at the Bellagio, George realizes that although he won $200, he lost a total of $800. When tax time rolls around, George reports the $800 loss under the miscellaneous deductions section on Schedule A. He also reports his $200 winnings on Line 21 of his 1040. Unfortunately, George does not realize that deducted gambling losses cannot legally exceed gains. He gets audited and fined for failing to comply with this IRS regulation. It is perfectly acceptable to deduct your gambling losses, but you must also report your winnings. On top of that, your claimed losses may not exceed your stated winnings. George can legally claimed a $200 loss because he won $200, but he cannot legally claim an $800 loss in this scenario.

Mistake # 4 - George Fails to Document His Gambling Activities in an IRS-Approved Fashion

George is notified by the IRS that he is being audited and needs to provide legal documentation of the wins and losses he accumulated at the Bellagio. He digs through his suitcase, reassembles his collection of ATM and players card receipts, and submits these slips of paper to the IRS in a manila envelope. IRS officials reject his envelope, stating that this piecemeal form of documentation is unacceptable.

Conclusions

It is wise to track your casino expenditures, but saved receipts are not enough in the case of an IRS audit. Wins and losses should be logged in a notebook which includes the location, date, and amount of money won or lost. Game stubs are also acceptable documentation, but ATM and players club receipts are not.

All Americans must report gambling winnings to the IRS, regardless of what state or country they are in when they win. Gambling proprietors are required by law to report guest winnings that exceed certain predetermined amounts to the IRS. If you don't report your winnings and are audited, you could get in trouble.

Citizens are permitted to claim gambling losses on the miscellaneous deductions section in Schedule A, but losses may not exceed winnings. If you're thinking about itemizing gambling losses on your taxes, experiment with different deduction scenarios to see which will give you the biggest benefit.

Forgot To Claim Gambling Winnings On Taxes Money

Finally, keep track of your wins and losses in a detailed notebook. If you do get audited, IRS officials will only accept certain forms of financial documentation.


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Forgot To Claim Gambling Winnings On Taxes

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