Mega Millions after taxes, by state
Current Mega Millions jackpot $300 million, cash option $124.1 million. Single filer.
You keep about
$78.2 million in cash where there is no state income tax
Seventy-eight million two hundred thirty-three thousand and 00/100 dollars
From $59.9 million in New York City to $78.2 million in Alaska, California, Florida, Nevada and 6 more.
Jackpot data as of Sep 26, 2026, for the Tuesday, Sep 29 drawing.
| Item | Amount | Share of jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised jackpotSum of 30 annuity payments | $300,000,000 | |
| Cash optionOfficial cash value | $124,100,000 | |
| Federal tax withheld at claim24% of the prize | −$29,784,000 | |
| Federal tax still owed at filingTop bracket is 37% | −$16,083,000 | |
| Texas state taxNo state income tax | $0 | |
| You keep26.1% of the advertised jackpot | $78,233,000 |
Pick your state below for its own breakdown, annuity schedule and filing-status options. Next drawing: Tuesday, September 29 at 11:00 p.m. ET. Drawings every Tuesday and Friday.
All 50 states and DC
| State | Cash kept | Annuity kept |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama* State tax: 5% | $72 million | $175.5 million |
| Alaska* State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| Arizona State tax: 2.5% | $75.1 million | $183 million |
| Arkansas State tax: 3.7% | $73.6 million | $179.4 million |
| California State tax: exempt | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| Colorado State tax: 4.4% | $72.8 million | $177.3 million |
| Connecticut State tax: 6.99% | $69.6 million | $169.5 million |
| Delaware State tax: 6.6% | $70 million | $170.7 million |
| District of Columbia State tax: 10.75% | $64.9 million | $158.2 million |
| Florida State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| Georgia State tax: 4.99% | $72 million | $175.5 million |
| Hawaii* State tax: 11% | $64.6 million | $157.5 million |
| Idaho State tax: 5.3% | $71.7 million | $174.6 million |
| Illinois State tax: 4.95% | $72.1 million | $175.6 million |
| Indiana State tax: 2.95% | $74.6 million | $181.6 million |
| Iowa State tax: 3.8% | $73.5 million | $179.1 million |
| Kansas State tax: 5.58% | $71.3 million | $173.8 million |
| Kentucky State tax: 3.5% | $73.9 million | $180 million |
| Louisiana State tax: 3% | $74.5 million | $181.5 million |
| Maine State tax: 9.15% | $66.9 million | $163 million |
| Maryland State tax: 6.5% | $70.2 million | $171 million |
| Massachusetts State tax: 9% | $67.1 million | $163.5 million |
| Michigan State tax: 4.25% | $73 million | $177.7 million |
| Minnesota State tax: 9.85% | $66 million | $160.9 million |
| Mississippi State tax: 4% | $73.3 million | $178.5 million |
| Missouri State tax: 4.7% | $72.4 million | $176.4 million |
| Montana State tax: 5.65% | $71.2 million | $173.5 million |
| Nebraska State tax: 4.55% | $72.6 million | $176.8 million |
| Nevada* State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| New Hampshire State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| New Jersey State tax: 10.75% | $64.9 million | $158.2 million |
| New Mexico State tax: 5.9% | $70.9 million | $172.8 million |
| New York State tax: 10.9% | $64.7 million | $157.8 million |
| New York City State tax: 14.776% | $59.9 million | $146.2 million |
| Yonkers State tax: 12.726% | $62.4 million | $152.3 million |
| North Carolina State tax: 3.99% | $73.3 million | $178.5 million |
| North Dakota State tax: 2.5% | $75.1 million | $183 million |
| Ohio State tax: 2.75% | $74.8 million | $182.2 million |
| Oklahoma State tax: 4.5% | $72.6 million | $177 million |
| Oregon State tax: 9.9% | $65.9 million | $160.8 million |
| Pennsylvania State tax: 3.07% | $74.4 million | $181.3 million |
| Rhode Island State tax: 5.99% | $70.8 million | $172.5 million |
| South Carolina State tax: 5.21% | $71.8 million | $174.9 million |
| South Dakota State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| Tennessee State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| Texas State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| Utah* State tax: 4.45% | $72.7 million | $177.1 million |
| Vermont State tax: 8.75% | $67.4 million | $164.2 million |
| Virginia State tax: 5.75% | $71.1 million | $173.2 million |
| Washington State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
| West Virginia State tax: 4.58% | $72.5 million | $176.8 million |
| Wisconsin State tax: 7.65% | $68.7 million | $167.5 million |
| Wyoming State tax: none | $78.2 million | $190.5 million |
* No state lottery; residents who win with a ticket bought elsewhere still owe their home state's income tax, and the state where the ticket was bought may tax it first. Local rows (New York City, Yonkers) include state and city tax.
Lump sum or annuity
| Cash option | Annuity (30 payments) | |
|---|---|---|
| Before tax | $124,100,000 | $300,000,000 |
| Total tax | −$45,867,000 | −$109,500,008 |
| You keep | $78,233,000 | $190,499,993 |
| In today's dollarsannuity discounted at 3% a year | $78,233,000 | $115,367,286 |
| When you get it | All at once | $2.9 million now, then yearly up to $11.8 million |
The annuity keeps $112.3 million more after tax in total but pays it over 29 years; the cash would need to earn 5.71% a year after tax to fund the same payments. How to think about the choice.
30 annuity payments from $2.9 million to $11.8 million after federal tax
| Payment | Year | Before tax | Federal | State | After tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 | $4,515,431 | −$1,620,710 | $0 | $2,894,721 |
| 2 | 2027 | $4,741,202 | −$1,704,245 | $0 | $3,036,957 |
| 3 | 2028 | $4,978,262 | −$1,791,957 | $0 | $3,186,305 |
| 4 | 2029 | $5,227,175 | −$1,884,055 | $0 | $3,343,120 |
| 5 | 2030 | $5,488,534 | −$1,980,758 | $0 | $3,507,776 |
| 6 | 2031 | $5,762,961 | −$2,082,296 | $0 | $3,680,665 |
| 7 | 2032 | $6,051,109 | −$2,188,910 | $0 | $3,862,198 |
| 8 | 2033 | $6,353,664 | −$2,300,856 | $0 | $4,052,808 |
| 9 | 2034 | $6,671,347 | −$2,418,399 | $0 | $4,252,949 |
| 10 | 2035 | $7,004,915 | −$2,541,819 | $0 | $4,463,096 |
| 11 | 2036 | $7,355,161 | −$2,671,410 | $0 | $4,683,751 |
| 12 | 2037 | $7,722,919 | −$2,807,480 | $0 | $4,915,438 |
| 13 | 2038 | $8,109,064 | −$2,950,354 | $0 | $5,158,710 |
| 14 | 2039 | $8,514,518 | −$3,100,372 | $0 | $5,414,146 |
| 15 | 2040 | $8,940,244 | −$3,257,890 | $0 | $5,682,353 |
| 16 | 2041 | $9,387,256 | −$3,423,285 | $0 | $5,963,971 |
| 17 | 2042 | $9,856,619 | −$3,596,949 | $0 | $6,259,669 |
| 18 | 2043 | $10,349,449 | −$3,779,297 | $0 | $6,570,153 |
| 19 | 2044 | $10,866,922 | −$3,970,761 | $0 | $6,896,161 |
| 20 | 2045 | $11,410,268 | −$4,171,799 | $0 | $7,238,469 |
| 21 | 2046 | $11,980,781 | −$4,382,889 | $0 | $7,597,892 |
| 22 | 2047 | $12,579,821 | −$4,604,534 | $0 | $7,975,287 |
| 23 | 2048 | $13,208,812 | −$4,837,261 | $0 | $8,371,551 |
| 24 | 2049 | $13,869,252 | −$5,081,624 | $0 | $8,787,629 |
| 25 | 2050 | $14,562,715 | −$5,338,205 | $0 | $9,224,510 |
| 26 | 2051 | $15,290,850 | −$5,607,615 | $0 | $9,683,236 |
| 27 | 2052 | $16,055,393 | −$5,890,496 | $0 | $10,164,897 |
| 28 | 2053 | $16,858,163 | −$6,187,520 | $0 | $10,670,642 |
| 29 | 2054 | $17,701,071 | −$6,499,396 | $0 | $11,201,674 |
| 30 | 2055 | $18,586,124 | −$6,826,866 | $0 | $11,759,258 |
| Total | $300,000,000 | −$109,500,008 | $0 | $190,499,993 | |
Questions
How much is the current Mega Millions jackpot after taxes?
About $78.2 million in cash in a state with no income tax, down to $59.9 million in New York City. The cash option is about $124.1 million before taxes.
What is the cash value of a $300 million Mega Millions jackpot?
About $124.1 million. The advertised $300 million is the sum of 30 annuity payments; the cash option is the money actually in the jackpot pool, which is why it is smaller.
How much is the $300 million Mega Millions annuity per year after taxes?
The first payment is about $4.5 million before taxes and $2.9 million after federal tax, rising 5% a year to $11.8 million after tax in year 30 (before any state tax).
How much federal tax do you pay on a $300 million Mega Millions jackpot?
About $45.9 million on the cash option: $29.8 million withheld at claim (24%) and about $16.1 million more when you file, because the top bracket is 37%.
Which state is best to win a $300 million Mega Millions jackpot in?
You keep the most, $78.2 million in cash, in Alaska, California, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota and 4 more. You keep the least in New York City.
These figures describe the taxes on a prize that has already been won; they are not a reason to buy a ticket. Jackpot odds are hundreds of millions to one. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (National Problem Gambling Helpline, 24/7).
Sources for this page
- Mega Millions official site (current jackpot and cash value) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- Report of the official jackpot estimate used here (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- IRS: 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- IRS Publication 505: withholding on gambling winnings (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- New Mega Millions arrives in April (megamillions.com) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- Mega Millions To Get MEGA Enhancements in April 2025 (megamillions.com) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- Mega Millions Game Change FAQ (Illinois Lottery) (checked Sep 26, 2026)
- State rules: see the sources page for all 51 jurisdictions
Figures are estimates for planning, not tax or legal advice. How they are calculated: methodology. Read the disclaimer.