An anonymous EuroMillions ticket holder has become the United Kingdom's fifth-biggest National Lottery winner after their £122 million (US$168 million) jackpot prize was paid out.
Lottery operator Camelot UK Lotteries Limited announced on Friday it had validated and paid out the prize of £122,550,350.80, the jackpot from the EuroMillions draw on April 2.
Unless the winner signs an agreement for full publicity, no further information can be released about their win.
Camelot's Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at the National Lottery, said, "We're delighted that we've now been able to validate the claim and pay out this amazing EuroMillions jackpot prize to the lucky ticket-holder.
"This lucky ticket-holder has now officially become the fifth biggest ever UK National Lottery winner and we hope that they will enjoy their win.
"In the current situation, we're encouraging everyone to check their tickets online at national-lottery.co.uk or by downloading the National Lottery app, and to only buy and check their tickets in retail in line with government guidance.
"Playing online via the website or app means that your ticket is checked, and you get an email notification if you win a prize. You can also scan your retail tickets on the National Lottery app to check if you're a winner."
The highest ever UK winner claimed a jackpot of £170 million in October 2019, but chose to stay anonymous.
Colin Weir and wife Chris, from Largs in North Ayrshire, claimed the second highest prize — £161 million — in July 2011.
The couple set up the Weir Charitable Trust and made a donation to a community football club in Largs before Mr. Weir's death in 2019 after a short illness.
Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Suffolk, took home more than £148 million in August 2012 and the fourth highest UK winner — who took home £123 million — also remained anonymous.
The record for the highest amount ever won on EuroMillions was set in February this year when a Swiss player took home €210 million, the equivalent of more than US$250 million.
All UK National Lottery prize money is tax free!
Life is good! Can stay anonymous and tax free....something the Feds here should consider---not going to happen--taxes I'm referring to.
Can't even imagine!
Its like you lose 1/2 when you win here! haha!
Would be nice - but like you said...not going to happen
They tried to pass anonymous in my state a while ago for big winners - never went anywhere.
Tried to send an email to Rep Titus of NV....it asked for zipcode and said I was out of her district.
So typed up a letter for a facsimile and sent it that way. Thanking her and Cong LaHood's (IL) proposal to increase the IRS tax threshold on slot/bingo wins to $5K from $1200. I mentioned wish it would apply to lotteries because as best I know other countries don't tax winnings.
The profit the state makes is not enough off of ticket sales - they need more back from the taxes too
But in the end though - if it means a win - I will be happy to pay.
The lottery going tax free in the US is never gonna happen. The US budget is $4.8 Trillion, as small as those lottery jackpots payouts are compared to..that money has to come from somewhere, which is why Uncle Sam leaves no stone unturned.
Hopefully one of these days a few lottery players that don't understand there is no National United States Lottery will figure why lottery winnings over $600 are taxed as "certain gambling winnings" Or better yet win enough to get a W-2G and have your tax guy explain it to you. What's the difference between earning $400,000 a year pay taxes and someone winning the same amount from a lottery?
Don't get me started on why PB and MM are not part of a "national lottery".
It is my understanding that lottery taxes don't kick in until it is over $1199??? I had cashed a ticket for $5K @ a regional office and I was the one held responsible to pay the taxes---not them. Since it was a store they probably are not equipped for that.
At Derby City Gaming, with its VLT since it is 'illegal' to have slot machines in KY they skirt the law by having old horse races determine payouts and the tax structure is beyond me.
Today Congressman La Hoop will get a facsimile from me about his proposal and my support to change slot winning threshold from $1200 to $5K as it should be. Read about how the AGA successfully fought and prevented the IRS from moving the tax threshold down to $600.
As for your statement of taxes on winnings over $600, KLC will get a private message about that. IDK since my winnings have been $600 or that one win over $1200. Ironically the W-2G arrived the very next day.
Stack 47...you are 100% correct and I'm mad as h--l. Why would they tax winnings over $601 like the KLC just told me? That just isn't right. The reason I brought up tax rate for slot wins is that IMHO the tax rate should apply the same for all, slots, bingo, lotto. You'd think, NAPL I believe it is, would petition the Treasury Dept to get the IRS to change the lotto wins to $1200 (at least) and above as taxable. Lobbyists for the lotteries....where are you???
There....facsimile just sent to Rep. LaHood, co-sponsor of bill for the Treasury Dept to increase the taxable limit on slot machine wins. Don't worry guys, will be working on the lottery lobbyists are next when I feel like it. This injustice needs to be fixed too.
There are a couple states that don't take state tax from lottery winnings, but I'm not sure how that works because most state taxes are based from a IRS form 1040 line that includes the lottery winnings.
The "over $600" clause has been in the IRS code for years and I believe before many of the state lotteries existed. The rule applies to horse and greyhound racing too.
FYI, Lahood two years ago lead an effort to stop France from targeting and taxing U.S. companies, but considering he voted against the last stimulus package sort of doubt he'll propose something to help racing and lottery players.
"I was the one held responsible to pay the taxes---not them."
Winners are always the ones who pay the taxes. In this case you were the one who had to send the money because the money towards taxes wasn't withheld. It's really no different than other taxable income - some money may be withheld, but eventually you find out what the total bill is and either you send more money or you get some back.
"Why would they tax winnings over $601 like the KLC just told me?"
All gambling winnings are taxable income. Winning $4 by matching the Power Ball gives you $4 of taxable income that you're supposed to report, and if you itemize deductions you can deduct the $2 cost of the ticket. The only thing that varies is the threshold for reporting the payout to the IRS. I've got no idea why it varies or why a state would win an argument over it. Obviously the IRS knows that virtually nobody is going to report winnings that weren't already reported, but 1. it would be wildly impractical to report the millions and millions of small prizes that are won, and 2. they know that few of the people who win those small prizes have a net profit.
"there is no National United States Lottery"
I've never figured out why so many people don't get that, either. There's obviously a very good argument that states shouldn't tax winnings from their own lotteries, because they already skimmed 40 or 50% off the top as soon as you bought the ticket. The federal government, OTOH, has absolutely nothing to do with it, and the only relevant characteristic of gambling income is that it's income.
Seems like one gets nickel and dimed to death anymore.
Have looked up NAPL phone # and may call them to see if there are any lobbyists. Biggest problem is with all the chaos inside the Beltway our cause would most likely get shelved. Do you think it is even worth pursuing, Stack 47.