Claiming Gambling Losses On Tax Return

Since the MGM casino opened in August, gamblers have reportedly wagered more than $428 million on MGM Springfield’s slot machines that generated about $40 million in revenue for MGM and reportedly another $18.5 million in revenue from table games. This is in addition to the $2 billion or so per year wagered at the Plainridge Park Casino that generates $170 million in revenue. All of this revenue came out of the pockets of those eager to try their luck.

Claiming Gambling Losses On Tax Return Deadline

In Massachusetts, gross income is defined as federal gross income as defined in the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2005 with certain modifications. Federal gross income is all income from whatever source derived unless specifically excluded. Federal gross income includes winnings from all types of gambling, including lottery, slot parlor and casino. However, federal law allows taxpayers to deduct their losses to the extent of any gambling winnings as an itemized deduction.

Claiming Gambling Losses On Tax Return Policy

Whether it's $5 or $5,000, from an office pool or from a casino, all gambling winnings must be reported on your tax return as 'other income' on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 21.If you win a non. Gambling losses cannot be greater than gambling wins for the tax year. Example: John wins $23,500 during the year playing slots and other casino games. His gambling losses are $37,900. John reports his $23,500 of wins on Schedule 1 and $23,500 as an itemized deduction on Schedule A. Gambling Losses To claim your gambling losses, you have to itemize your deductions. Gambling losses are a miscellaneous deduction, but - unlike some other miscellaneous deductions - you can. There is one golden rule to keep in mind when deducting gambling losses on your tax return. You can’t, unfortunately, deduct losses that total more than your winnings. So, if you made $10,000 on gambling last year but lost $12,000, you can only deduct $10,000 in losses (nothing more). This can be a bit of a bummer, but don’t worry.

For example, if a taxpayer won $5,000 in a casino for federal tax purposes they could deduct losses up to the full amount of winnings. For taxpayers who gamble frequently, it would not be unusual for losses to equal or exceed winnings. So for federal purposes after the deduction for losses, it was possible that very little income was reported on the federal tax return. The burden is on the taxpayer to prove any losses (see Rev proc 77-29, 1977-2 CB 538).

However, if the taxpayer was a Massachusetts resident, the full $5,000 would be included in Massachusetts income with no offsetting deduction. So if the taxpayer won $5,000 on a lucky visit to the casino but let it ride and actually lost all $5,000 of it, for federal tax purposes that taxpayer would have net federal income of zero. However, if the taxpayer lived in Massachusetts, the full $5,000 would be included in state income with no offsetting deduction so the taxpayer would pay state income tax on the full $5,000.

Fortunately, the law that expanded gaming in Massachusetts contained provisions that allow taxpayers to deduct casino losses to the extent of gambling winnings. However, the law only applies to losses incurred at a gaming establishment licensed in Massachusetts.

Claiming Gambling Losses On Tax Return Texas

Therefore, in the example above, if the Massachusetts taxpayer won $5,000 at the tables at MGM in Springfield, Massachusetts, and then took a trip to Connecticut and lost the $5,000 at the Mohegan or Foxwood casino, no deduction would be allowed when computing Massachusetts income tax.

Categorized:Gambling, Taxes

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