Every Mega Millions prize is claimed from the lottery of the state where you bought the ticket, under its rules. Where you go depends on how much you won, and the deadline runs from 90 days to one year after the drawing. Here's how it works, step by step.
First: sign and protect your ticket
Sign the back of your ticket if you haven't already. Until you do, whoever holds it can try to claim it. Keep it somewhere safe, take a photo of both sides and don't post it anywhere. If you played online, your ticket is already linked to your account.
Then check your prize: enter your numbers in the ticket checker or compare them with the results, and multiply the base prize by the multiplier on your ticket.
Where to claim, by amount
Each state sets its own thresholds, but the process works the same way almost everywhere:
| Prize | Where to claim | What you usually need |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller prizes (usually up to $599 or $600) | Any retailer of the state lottery where you bought the ticket. If you played online, it's usually credited to your account | The signed ticket |
| Larger prizes | A lottery office or claim center, or by mail in many states | The signed ticket, a claim form, a photo ID and your Social Security number |
| The biggest prizes and the jackpot | The state lottery's headquarters, often by appointment | The original ticket, a claim form and ID, and a verification process |
Check the exact amounts and options on your state lottery's website before you go. Many claim centers accept walk-ins, but some require an appointment.
Claim deadlines
You have between 90 days and one year from the drawing date, depending on the state. After that, the prize expires. Each state's deadline is in Mega Millions states.
For jackpot winners, some states also set a shorter window to choose the cash option. In Florida, for example, Mega Millions prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing, but a jackpot winner who wants the lump sum has to claim within the first 60 days.
Claim in the state where you bought
A winning ticket can only be redeemed in the state or jurisdiction where it was sold. If you bought it while traveling, you'll have to claim it from that state's lottery, in person or by mail if its rules allow it. That state's deadlines, taxes and publicity rules are the ones that apply.
If you played online
If you bought from your state lottery's website or app, you'll usually be notified of a win, and smaller prizes are credited to your account. Larger ones may require extra identity checks or an in-person claim, depending on the amount and the platform. With a courier or another online service, follow that service's claim process: the prize is still paid under the rules of the state where the ticket was bought.
Federal taxes
All lottery prizes are taxable income, big or small. On prizes over $5,000, the lottery withholds 24% for federal taxes before paying you and sends you a Form W-2G. If you're not a U.S. resident, the federal withholding is generally 30%.
That 24% is an advance, not the final bill. A large prize can push you into a higher tax bracket, up to the top federal rate of 37%, and you'll pay the difference when you file your return. On a $1 million prize, for example, $240,000 is withheld up front, and you may owe more later.
State taxes
State taxes depend on where you bought the ticket and where you live. California doesn't tax California Lottery prizes, and states with no personal income tax, such as Florida, Texas, Washington, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming, don't tax lottery winnings either. Elsewhere, rates range from a few percent to more than 10% in New York, and some cities add their own tax. What each lottery withholds is in Mega Millions states.
Tax rules change, and every case is different, so talk to a tax professional before claiming a large prize.
Jackpot: annuity or cash
- Annuity: the full advertised jackpot, paid as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, each 5% bigger than the last. If the winner dies before receiving them all, the remaining payments go to their beneficiary or estate.
- Cash option: a single lump-sum payment equal to all the cash in the jackpot prize pool, which is much less than the advertised amount.
Taxes apply either way. Before deciding, check your state's deadline for the cash option and get professional financial advice. More on how the jackpot works in the Mega Millions jackpot.
Can you stay anonymous?
It depends on the state. Public disclosure laws vary: some states require the lottery to identify winners publicly, while others let them stay anonymous, fully or in part. Find out what your state allows before you claim.
Pools and group wins
Mega Millions prizes can be shared by a group, and the winners decide how to split the prize when they claim it. For tax purposes, the lottery may ask the group to fill out IRS Form 5754, so that each member gets their own Form W-2G for their share. It's much easier if you agreed in writing beforehand who's in the pool and what each person's share is.
Lost, stolen or damaged tickets
Neither Mega Millions nor the state lotteries are responsible for lost or stolen tickets. That's why signing the ticket matters: it's the best protection you have. If your ticket is damaged, contact your state lottery before the deadline to ask what it can do.
What happens to unclaimed prizes
If a jackpot isn't claimed in time, each participating lottery gets back the money it put into it. Each lottery uses its unclaimed prizes in its own way, typically for state programs, promotions or additional prizes. More in where Mega Millions money goes.
Never pay to claim a prize
Real lotteries withhold taxes from the prize itself: they never ask you to send money, buy gift cards or share your bank details to release a prize. If someone does, it's a scam. How to spot one is explained in lottery scams.
Frequently asked questions
Is tax withheld from small prizes?
Federal tax isn't withheld from prizes of $5,000 or less, but they're still taxable income that you're expected to report. Some states have their own withholding rules.
Can I claim a Mega Millions prize by mail?
In many states, yes, for prizes below the amount that requires an in-person claim. Check your state lottery's website for the form, the address and the limit.
Can a group claim a prize together?
Yes. Mega Millions prizes can be shared, and the winners decide how to split them when they claim. The lottery may ask for IRS Form 5754 so that each member is taxed on their own share.
What happens to annuity payments if the winner dies?
They keep being paid as scheduled, to the winner's designated beneficiary or to their estate.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.