IP 2009(36)

Connecticut Income Tax Treatment of Gambling Winnings Other Than State Lottery Winnings

This publication has been superseded by IP 2011(27)

Purpose: This Informational Publication answers frequently-asked questions about the Connecticut income tax treatment of gambling winnings other than lottery winnings from state-conducted lotteries (state lottery winnings). Frequently-asked questions about state lottery winnings are answered in Informational Publication 2009(38), Connecticut Income Tax Treatment of State Lottery Winnings Received by Residents and Nonresidents of Connecticut.

Definitions

DRS means the Department of Revenue Services.

IRS means the Internal Revenue Service.

Gambling winnings means and includes proceeds from a wager placed in a sweepstakes; wagering pool or lottery (other than state-conducted lottery); payments made to winners of poker tournaments on or after March 4, 2008; or proceeds from a wagering transaction (including a wagering transaction in a casino, a parimutuel pool with respect to horse races, dog races, or jai alai). Gambling winnings also include door prizes, contest prizes, and prizes from raffles or similar drawings. Gambling winnings do not include state lottery winnings.

State-conducted lottery means a lottery conducted by an agency of a state acting under authority of state law, but only if the wager is placed with the state agency conducting the lottery or with its authorized employees or agents. State-conducted lottery includes the Connecticut Lottery conducted by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, a public instrumentality of the State of Connecticut.

State lottery winnings means lottery winnings from a wager placed in a state-conducted lottery where the wager is placed with the state agency conducting the lottery or with its authorized employees or agents. State lottery winnings include Connecticut Lottery winnings.

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1. Are gambling winnings subject to Connecticut income tax?

Whether gambling winnings are subject to Connecticut income tax depends on whether or not the winner is a Connecticut resident.

If the winner is a resident of Connecticut and meets the gross income test, all gambling winnings are subject to Connecticut income tax to the extent includable in the winner’s federal adjusted gross income.

If the winner is a part-year resident of Connecticut and meets the gross income test, gambling winnings are subject to Connecticut income tax to the extent includable in the winner’s federal adjusted gross income and to the extent received during the Connecticut residency portion of the winner’s taxable year.

If the winner is a nonresident of Connecticut, gambling winnings, whether from gambling in Connecticut or from gambling outside Connecticut, are not subject to Connecticut income tax.

For information on whether an individual is a resident, nonresident, or part-year resident, see the instructions to the Connecticut income tax return for residents (Form CT-1040) or the Connecticut income tax return for nonresidents or part-year residents (Form CT-1040NR/PY).

Gross income test

A winner must file a Connecticut income tax return and report his or her gambling winnings if the winner’s gross income for the 2009 taxable year exceeds:

• $12,000 and the winner is filing separately;
• $13,000 and the winner is filing single;*
• $19,000 and the winner is filing head of household; or
• $24,000 and the winner is filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) with dependent child.

A winner’s gross income includes all income received in the form of money, goods, property, and services not exempt from federal income tax and any additions required to be reported on Form CT-1040, Schedule 1. Gross income includes but is not limited to compensation for services including wages, fees, commissions, taxable fringe benefits, and similar items; gross income from a business; capital gains; interest and dividends; gross rental income; gambling winnings; alimony; taxable pensions and annuities; prizes and awards; income from partnerships, S corporations, estates, and trusts; individual retirement account distributions; unemployment compensation; and federally taxable Social Security benefits.

If a winner’s gross income does not exceed the applicable gross income threshold and Connecticut income tax has been withheld from his or her gambling winnings, the Connecticut income tax will not be refunded to the winner unless he or she files a Connecticut income tax return.

2. Are gambling losses deductible?

Gambling losses are not deductible for Connecticut income tax purposes even though, in certain circumstances, they are deductible for federal income tax purposes.

3. May a resident or part-year resident claim a credit against his or her Connecticut income tax for income tax paid to another state on gambling winnings?

No. Neither a resident nor part-year resident is eligible to claim a credit against his or her Connecticut income tax for income tax paid to another state on gambling winnings.

4. Will Connecticut income tax be withheld from gambling winnings?

Connecticut income tax will be withheld from a payment of gambling winnings if all of the following conditions are met:

• The payer maintains an office or transacts business in Connecticut;
• The payment is subject to federal income tax withholding; and
• The payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

For example, a dog track located within Connecticut must withhold Connecticut income tax from a payment of winnings only if the payment is subject to federal income tax withholding and the payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident. Also, if a payer of gambling winnings is a nonprofit organization maintaining an office or carrying on activities in Connecticut, the nonprofit organization must withhold Connecticut income tax from a payment of gambling winnings if it is required to withhold federal income tax from the payment and the payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

The fact that federal or Connecticut income tax may have been withheld from a winner’s winnings does not excuse the winner from filing a federal income tax return or a Connecticut income tax return.

Connecticut income tax will not be withheld from gambling winnings if the payer does not maintain an office or transact business in Connecticut, if the payment is not subject to federal income tax withholding, or if the payment is not made to a resident or someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

5. Is a winner required to provide his or her name, address, and Social Security Number (SSN) to the payer?

Yes. A winner is required by federal law to provide proper identification to verify his or her name, address, and Social Security Number.

6. How is a winner’s residency status determined?

A payer of gambling winnings determines the residency status of a winner based upon the address furnished and the identification provided by the winner. The payer must additionally require two forms of identification from the winner including but not limited to a Social Security card or a driver’s license.

7. What if there is more than one winner?

If more than one person is entitled to a share of the winnings subject to reporting or withholding, one federal Form 5754, Statement by Person(s) Receiving Gambling Winnings, must be completed identifying each person entitled to a share. Federal Form 5754 is also used when the person receiving gambling winnings subject to reporting or withholding is not the actual winner. This form will list the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of all persons receiving any payment of the winnings. The form must be signed, under penalty of perjury, by the person or persons receiving the winnings. The payer uses the information on federal Form 5754 to prepare federal Form W-2G for each of the winners. A copy of federal Form 5754 must be retained by the payer. A copy of federal Form 5754 need not be submitted to DRS, but must be made available upon request. If the person receiving the winnings is unable to properly identify any of the persons entitled to a share of the winnings or their state of residence, the amount of the winnings applicable to the other person is considered to have been won by a resident of Connecticut and Connecticut income tax must be deducted and withheld from the winnings.

8. Will payments of gambling winnings be reported to DRS?

If a payer of gambling winnings maintains an office or transacts business in Connecticut, the payer is required to report payments of gambling winnings to DRS if the payer is required to report the payment to the IRS and the payment is made to a resident or to someone receiving the payment on behalf of a resident.

The fact that a payer may not have been required to report a payment of gambling winnings to the IRS does not excuse the winner from reporting those winnings for federal and Connecticut income tax purposes.

While payers of gambling winnings not maintaining an office or transacting business in Connecticut are not required to report payments to DRS, the IRS provides information about gambling winnings of Connecticut residents to DRS.

For More Information: Call DRS during business hours, Monday through Friday:

• 1-800-382-9463 (Connecticut calls outside the Greater Hartford calling area only); or
• 860-297-5962 (from anywhere).

TTY, TDD, and Text Telephone users only may transmit inquiries anytime by calling 860-297-4911. 

Paperless Filing/Payment Methods (fast, easy, free, and confidential):

Business and individual taxpayers can use the Taxpayer Service Center (TSC) at www.ct.gov/TSC to file a variety of tax returns, update account information, and make payments online.

File Electronically: You can choose first-time filer information and filing assistance or log directly into the TSC to file returns and pay taxes.

Pay Electronically: You can pay taxes for tax returns that cannot be filed through the TSC. Log in and select the Make Payment Only option. Designate a payment date up to the due date of the tax and mail a paper return to complete the filing process. 

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IP 2009(36)
Income Tax
Gambling Winnings
Issued: 06/04/2010