How to Claim Your Prize

So, you’ve won a Lottery prize - CONGRATULATIONS!  Now what?

First, complete the back of your ticket, including your name, address, phone number and signature.  Lottery tickets are bearer documents, meaning the person whose name is on the back of a ticket is the official and legal owner of the ticket. 

INSTANT GAMES: As of July 1, 2008, prizes up to and including $2,500 can be paid by an authorized retailer.  (Instant-only retailers are limited to a $600 payout.) A Standard Claim Form must be completed for all prizes of more than $600. For prizes greater than $2,500, the Standard Claim Form must be submitted to the Lottery for payment. Visit a licensed Lottery retailer or one of Lottery’s seven regional offices to obtain and file a Standard Claim Form. In the case of top instant prizes which are annuities in games like Win $1,000 A Week for Life, the prize must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters in Middletown. For top prizes of $1 million cash in games you may file a claim at any authorized retailer or at any Lottery Regional Office. Typically, it takes approximately 4-6 weeks to process your claim once it has been received at our Headquarters location. If your claim is received at Lottery Headquarters after the first week in December, claims processing may be delayed until the new year to ensure that prize payments and tax forms are issued in the same calendar year. 

TERMINAL BASED GAMES: Prizes up to and including $2,500 can be paid by an authorized retailer.   A Standard Claim Form must be completed for all prizes of more than $600. For prizes greater than $2,500, the Standard Claim Form must be submitted to the Lottery for payment. Visit a licensed Lottery retailer or one of Lottery’s seven area offices to obtain and file a Standard Claim Form. The top prize in the CASH 5, mix & match, Quinto, Treasure Hunt and Super 7 games may be filed at one of the Regional Offices or at Lottery Headquarters in Middletown. The top jackpot prize in the Powerball^®  and Mega Millions^TM games must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters in Middletown. Hours for Lottery Headquarters are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday; hours for the Regional Offices are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.

Winners of multi-million dollar jackpot prizes are encouraged to sign each winning ticket, store it in a secure place, contact a financial adviser and then contact Pennsylvania Lottery Headquarters at (717) 702-8000. 

Typically, it takes approximately 4-6 weeks to process your claim once it has been received at our Headquarters location. If your claim is received at Lottery Headquarters after the first week in December, claims processing may be delayed until the new year to ensure that prize payments and tax forms are issued in the same calendar year. 

How long do I have to collect a prize?

Instant prizes can be collected one year from the official game end-sale date.

Terminal-based prizes can be collected one year from drawing date. Within 180 days from drawing date at a retailer location; after 180 days, one must file a claim form available at a retailer location.

(NOTE: Online prizes include winnings from the following games: The Daily Number, BIG 4, Quinto, Treasure Hunt, CASH 5, mix & match, Super 7, Mega Millions and Powerball).

How do I claim a prize if I live out of state?  

The first thing you should do is sign the back of your ticket in ink, then make a copy to keep for your records. You may mail your claim to our Headquarters location unless it is one of the top jackpot prizes listed above.  Mail the original ticket to:  Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, 1200 Fulling Mill Road, Suite 1, Middletown, PA 17057. Typically, it takes approximately 4-6 weeks to process your claim once it has been received at our Headquarters location. If your claim is received at Lottery Headquarters after the first week in December, claims processing may be delayed until the new year to ensure that prize payments and tax forms are issued in the same calendar year. 

Can a group share a prize? 

Yes, for prizes greater than $600. One member of the group (claimant of record) signs the ticket, indicating that it is a group ownership. The same person files a claim form and attaches a list of the other co-owners. The Lottery will send a letter and appropriate number of IRS 5754 forms to the claimant of record. 5754 forms must be completed by the claimant of record and returned to the Lottery before a separate W2-G form will be issued to each co-owner, showing the individual prize share. If the 5754 forms are not completed by the claimant of record and returned to the Lottery, the W2-G for the entire prize amount will be issued to the claimant of record. Only one check will be issued to the claimant of record for a lottery-paid prize. That person is responsible for distribution of the prize. 

"For Life" prizes cannot be shared. Please see official games rules for more information.

Are Lottery prizes taxable?

No state or local tax is charged on Pennsylvania Lottery winnings to Pennsylvania residents; however, Lottery winnings are fully taxable for federal income tax purposes. 

For winnings of $600.01 up to and including $5,000, you will be issued a W-2G form to report your winnings on your federal income tax form.

For winnings of $5,000.01 and over, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue deducts the appropriate percent for federal withholding, as required by law, before you receive your winnings check (or, if it is an annuity, from each winnings check). You will then receive your check along with a W2-G form to submit with your 1040 form at the end of the tax year.

The Lottery is not in a position to give tax advice. Please contact an accountant or tax authority with further questions.

Can I remain anonymous although I’m a Lottery prize winner?

In purchasing a Lottery ticket, the player agrees to comply with and abide by the state Lottery Law and related policies.  The Pennsylvania Lottery’s long-standing public disclosure policy preserves the integrity of the Lottery and its games and ensures players that prizes are fairly awarded.  Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know law, all payments made by the commonwealth are public information.  Therefore, when a person wins the Lottery and payment is made, the winner's information is public.  All but three states (Delaware, Kansas and North Dakota) have laws/policies that require the lotteries to release the names and cities of residence of winners.  The Pennsylvania Lottery publishes all or most of the following information on its Web site for public inspection:  Name of the winner(s); city or town; county and state in which the winner(s) reside; name of game won; date prize was won; and amount of prize won.  If the prize is claimed in the name of a legal entity, the name and other relevant information of the entity and its partners, shareholder and beneficiaries will be released.