Can anyone say GREED!!! Budget my AZZ!!! This is pure unvarnished GREED!!! Vote the greedy <snip>s out the first chance you get!! When election time roll around don't conviently forget what these greedy politicians did. It's not like they received a pay cut or reduced the use of unnecessary items in all of their departments. It's not like they (politicians) started paying for their business trips out of their pockets. These fat cats are getting too fat. Time to put the pudgy <snip>s on a lean mean diet!!! Get their names now so when they begin to run for their positions again, you can remind the voters that these greedy boogers voted to help themselves to their winnings and how they sneaked in the retro part also. Print this story and hand it out to every person you know that gamble. Keep it in their face when election time come. And if the people do not vote these leeches out then they deserve to be fleeced!!! Why even bother to play the lottery if dirty dogs like these folks can come and help themselves to your kibble in the name of a friggin budget??  This is B.S. and it stinks to high heaven. God need to zap every one of these greedy <snip>s with a 32oz wart on the end of their lying noses and everytime they get it removed it grows back twice its size. The greedy hounds!!!

That's terrible for NJ!

Constructive possession isn't any more open to interpretation than "income."  Nobody says ypu need to cash your paycheck right away, but I can't imagine you would honestly try to claim that you didn't earn the income until you actually get  around to cashing it. As I said, you may be able to put it off for up to 60 days, but other than that it's pretty much written ins tone as far as the IRS is concerned.

"As long as you don't sign it or post a claim at lottery HQ...isn't the ticket simply a piece of paper you bought for $1."

I see two possibilities here. You know that's a ridiculously stupid question, or you'd be thrilled to sell your $1 ticket for $50.

Sure, it might not be easy for NH to find out that you bought a Maine ticket while you were still a resident. I didn't say it's difficult to cheat on your taxes, I simply explained the rules. If NH does find out (and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they specifically check winners in nearby states to see if those people might be, of have been NH residents) you can expect that they'll prosecute you for tax evasion. Even if you don't go to jail you can expect  the fines and interest (and fees for a defense attorney) to make you wish you had just paid your taxes up front.

Johnph77, Sorry others didnt catch your simple yet accurate statement. I caught it and agree that they already got there slice of the pie.

I'm saving all my losing scratchers and numbers tickets and I almost have enough to wallpaper my house. :)

Just not much public compassion for lottery winners I guess!  Perhaps Geico should consider replacing "Cave Man" with "Lottery Winner" in their advertising campaign.

Maybe the residence of N.J. should vote with their pockets, and telephones, and switch to the Massachusetts lottery games, which are available out of state by subscription!

I can understand them changing it but not making it RETROACTIVE.  If i win I will make sure to set aside some $$$ to pay my taxes when the time comes because my state has a state tax.  But it seems grossly unfair to say oh wait you remember that money you already spent to pay off your house and bills?  Well now you have to pay taxes on it.  What if they have none of the $$ left.  I'm talking about the people that won low tier prizes here.  If I won $10,000 it would be like a drop in the bucket so I would have already put it towards my house or credit card bills.  When tax time came around if I wasn't expecting a tax on winnings I already spent I would have no way to pay it.  I just can't believe they would make it retroactive.  Sickening.

I'm glad to know I'm not alone.

Good One!!  I totally agree...and I haven't even won big....YET!!!

I'm so glad I moved out of NJ.

I would say the same about Republicans. I do believe this is something the Republicans cooked up.......a bunch of bushwhacks that need their money and those same Republicans continue to bankrupt the people...they did enough damage for the last eight years.

I'm happy because New Jersey  have won more Jackpot than any other states. Thats good. I was  hoping something like that was gonna happen and it did. Thanks God

sheeler, that's real mature.  i think this tax is an outrage and im considering boycotting the lottery and not buying anymore tickets.  this takes the fun out of winning.

A few Republicans have used these antics as well.  Pride and Political lies don't discriminate, I'm sure we all have numerous example we could cite.!