A Powerball jackpot bought in West Virginia is taxed at 4.82% at the state level, close to the middle of the pack. On today's $674,000,000 jackpot that is about $13,683,440 to West Virginia, leaving $165,216,504 from the $283,888,800 cash option.
West Virginia has been cutting its income tax and now tops out at 4.82%. Lottery prizes are taxed at that rate, with no local income tax.
Calculate your take-home
West Virginia Powerball payout after tax
| Line | Lump sum | Annuity (30 payments) |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised jackpot | $674,000,000 | $674,000,000 |
| Amount paid out before tax | $283,888,800 | $674,000,000 |
| Federal tax (37% bracket) | −$104,988,856 | −$247,880,007 |
| West Virginia tax (4.82%) | −$13,683,440 | −$32,486,800 |
| You keep | $165,216,504 | $393,633,192 |
| Share of the advertised jackpot | 24.5% | 58.4% |
Built from today's live cash value ($283,900,000). Single filer, standard deduction, no other income.
How West Virginia taxes lottery winnings
West Virginia uses a graduated income tax, and lottery prizes are ordinary income — not capital gains, not a special category. Because a jackpot is far above the highest bracket threshold, the effective state rate on the prize is the top rate, 4.82%.
- West Virginia withholds 6.5% at payout, above the 4.82% top rate.
- The state has cut rates repeatedly in recent years, so check the current figure before filing.
Three prizes, worked out for West Virginia
| Prize | Cash value | Federal | West Virginia | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1M | $421,200 | −$110,554 | −$20,302 | $290,344 |
| $10M | $4,212,000 | −$1,508,440 | −$203,018 | $2,500,541 |
| Current jackpot ($674M) | $283,888,800 | −$104,988,856 | −$13,683,440 | $165,216,504 |
Smaller prizes are worth checking against your own bracket: below roughly $640,600 of taxable income the federal rate is 35% or less, so the flat 37% used here overstates the bill on smaller wins.
If you live in West Virginia but buy elsewhere
Lottery income is generally taxed by the state where the ticket was purchased, and again by your state of residence, with a credit for tax paid to the first state. That credit is usually capped at the home state's own rate, so a higher-tax home state still collects the difference.
That matters in West Virginia because Pennsylvania is next door with no tax on a home-state ticket. Crossing the border to buy does not make the prize tax-free for a West Virginia resident — it just adds a second state to the paperwork.
Residency is decided by facts — where you spend the year, where you vote, where your home is — not by the address you write on the claim form. Moving after the win does not retroactively change the state that taxes the prize.
Compare West Virginia with its neighbours
| State | Rate on a jackpot | Take-home (lump sum) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 4.82% | $165,216,504 | — |
| Virginia | 5.75% | $162,576,338 | −$2,640,166 |
| Ohio | 2.75% | $171,093,002 | +$5,876,498 |
| Pennsylvania | 0% | $178,899,944 | +$13,683,440 |
All 46 jurisdictions are listed in the state tax index and the full rate table.
Frequently asked
Does West Virginia tax Powerball winnings?
Yes. West Virginia treats a Powerball jackpot as ordinary income and taxes it at 4.82% at the top marginal rate. On the current $674M jackpot that is about $13,683,440 on a lump-sum claim.
How much would I keep from the current jackpot in West Virginia?
About $165,216,504 on the cash option ($283,888,800), or about $393,633,192 if you take the 30-payment annuity and stay in West Virginia for all of it. Both figures are before any local tax, professional fees or other income.
Do I pay West Virginia tax if I buy the ticket in another state?
Usually yes. West Virginia taxes residents on worldwide income, so a prize won in a no-tax state such as Pennsylvania is still West Virginia income. You would generally claim a credit for tax withheld by the state where you bought the ticket, but the credit rarely covers the full 4.82%.
Can I claim anonymously in West Virginia?
Anonymity rules are set by the state lottery, not the tax code, and they change. Some states let a trust or LLC claim in place of the individual; others publish the winner's name regardless. Check the West Virginia lottery claim rules before you sign the back of the ticket.