Won a New Car at Casino? Taxes on Your Prize at USA
To win a new car at online casino or online sports betting room is a dream for many online casino gamblers. Owning a brand-new set of wheels without having to pay the manufacturer's suggested retail price is a great deal. However, before you throw yourself into trying to become a car winner, you should make some plans for what to do once you've actually won a car. The dream can turn into a nightmare if you aren't prepared to pay taxes on your prize.
In the United States, winners are required to pay taxes on sweepstakes prizes from real money casinos, which are treated as income for tax purposes. That means you'll be required to add the fair market value of your prize to your earnings from jobs and other sources when you report your income to the IRS.
The amount you'll have to pay once you've won a car at real money casino depends on your specific set of circumstances, but you can estimate taxes to be somewhere around 1/3 of the prize's value. So if you win a vehicle worth $60,000, you can expect to pay around $20,000 in taxes.
A $60,000 car for $20,000 is a great deal, but it can still be a challenge to find an extra ten grand in your budget.
Don't think you can afford it? Before you decline a car prize because of the taxes you'll have to pay for it, here are eight creative ways to make those taxes more affordable.
Consult With a Tax Professional
The first thing that you should do after you win a new car (or any other large sweepstakes prize) is to consult with a tax professional. This should be done as soon as you receive the win notification so that you can get the earliest start possible on preparing for your taxes. Your CPA or accountant can give you advice that is tailored to your specific situation, which is vital to ensuring that you are properly prepared.
If you don't have a tax professional to help you, these tips will help you find an accountant who is right for your needs.
Don't Panic - You've Got Time to Plan
Remember that you will pay taxes on your new car win in the year you take possession of the car, not from the date you found out that you were a winner. Especially in the case of large prizes like cars, it takes time for your win to be verified and your prize to be delivered.
For example, if you found out that you won a vehicle at USA online casino in August of 2017 and take possession of the car in February of 2018, then you won't have to pay Federal taxes on the prize until you submit your 2018 taxes - usually in April of 2019. This gives you time to put together a plan and save for your taxes.
Research Your Prize's Fair Market Value
U.S. citizens need to pay taxes on the fair market value (FMV) of any sweepstakes prize, including a new car. The FMV could be lower than the approximate retail value (ARV) listed in the sweepstakes, especially if it takes a while for you to take possession of the vehicle.
Car values drop after the new car models come out each year, so that 2018 model you won might be less expensive when you take possession in 2019.
So it makes sense to see how much your vehicle is worth at the time you take possession of it. If you find a difference between that value and the ARV, you can dispute the car's value on your sweepstakes taxes.
Maximize Your Deductibles
If your taxes are going to be rising by the value of the car you won, you might be able to balance out the additional cash you'll owe by finding ways to lower your overall tax debt.
Examine your finances carefully to see if you are eligible for any deductions or credits that could reduce the tax burden on your new car win. Perhaps you could make a charitable donation to offset some of the costs. Your tax adviser might be able to find additional deductions and credits you can use.
Set Aside Money Over Time
You can use the time you have before you have to file your annual taxes to save the money you need to cover the car taxes. Paying thousands of dollars in one hit can be difficult, but if you set aside some money every month you might not even notice the loss.
If you're not great at saving money, these tips on getting into a money-saving habit could help.
Get a Secured Car Loan to Cover the Taxes
Once you've taken possession of the car, you can consider a secured loan to help with the taxes. With a brand new car in your possession, you can usually get a very generous interest rate on a new car loan.
And you won't have to take out a loan for the car's full value, since you're only looking to cover the taxes you owe. You can make lower monthly payments and pay off your loan more quickly than you would if you bought a car with a loan.
Not sure whether a loan is right for you? Here are some things to consider before you get a car loan.
Sell Your Old Car for Tax Payments
Now that you have won a spiffy new car, you don't need your old one anymore, right? You can sell your old car and put the money that you receive toward paying the taxes on the new one. This can defray some or all of the costs of winning a new car, and could even net you a profit.
Sell Your New Car
It may be heartbreaking to contemplate, but selling your new car win could be an intelligent way to cover the taxes.
Many dealers will buy back a new car prize for a good price before you drive it off their lot; after all, they know that the car is in pristine condition.
You can end up with enough money to pay the IRS and still have thousands left over to buy a less expensive car or to use for other purposes.
Stay safe when paying online casino taxes
Taxes are a legitimate cost of winning sweepstakes prizes. But remember that you always pay your taxes directly to the IRS. If a company tells you that you've won a car and then says you need to pay taxes to them before claiming the prize, they are trying to scam you. You shouldn't have to pay anything to claim a prize: not taxes, not processing fees, and not fees to clear customs. Make sure you know the warning signs of scams before you respond to any win notification.