When can I Deduct Gambling Losses on My Income Taxes?
You can deduct your losses at gaming establishments any time, but not if your losses exceed your winnings. You can only deduct the amount you spend to win. In other words, if you gamble 0 and win 00, the most you can deduct is the 0 you lost.
In fact, if you win 0 or more at a horse track or casino, 00 or more if you hit at bingo, and 00 or above playing keno, you have won enough to have to report the income. The Internal Revenue Service refers to these sums, as “qualifying amounts” and the establishment where you are gambling will take your social security number and issue you an IRS form W-2G when you reach these “qualifying amounts.”
You must report all monies received from gambling and any non-cash winnings, as well, on your 1040 income tax return. You cannot file a 1040EZ form when reporting your gambling winnings, as you will need to itemize these earnings and deductions.
]]>
Winnings are subject to withholding if the amount won is 00 or more or more than 300 times the amount wagered. If you fail to provide the gaming establishment with your Social Security number they may hold back up to 28% of your winnings in taxes. If taxes were withheld from your winnings, you need to report that on the W-2G form the gaming establishment will send you in the mail and transfer it to the total payments section on your 1040 form when filing your income taxes. To keep the Internal Revenue Service from getting too curious, you should attach all forms, including the W-2G to your income tax return.
Even though the gaming establishment will not report lesser earnings, it is your duty to report them on your income tax return, none-the-less. Although the Internal Revenue Service probably would not catch on to your small winnings, since the gaming establishments don’t report them, they may get suspicious if you are only reporting gambling earnings associated to a W-2G. They figure that you are just not reporting your lesser earnings since you obviously gamble.
When winning non-cash items like cars, jewelry, or clothing, these items are subject to tax at their fair market value.
Also be aware that any “comps’ you receive from a gaming establishment are also considered taxable by the Internal Revenue Service. In this case, you will need to figure the fair market value of the “comps” in order to comply with reporting them.
by admin on August 11th, 2011 Tags: Deduct, Gambling, Income, Losses, taxes
Posted in Online Bingo News | No Comments »
