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 exceeds:

• $12,000 and the winner’s filing status for Connecticut income tax purposes is Married Filing Separately;
• $12,625* and the winner’s filing status for Connecticut income tax purposes is Single;
• $19,000 and the winner’s filing status for Connecticut income tax purposes is Head of Household; or
• $24,000 and the winner’s filing status for Connecticut income tax purposes is Married Filing Jointly.

*This amount will be $12,625 for the 2006 taxable year; $12,750 for the 2007 taxable year; $13,000 for the 2008 taxable year; $13,500 for the 2009 taxable year; $14,000 for the 2010 taxable year; $14,500 for the 2011 taxable year; and $15,000 for the 2012 and subsequent taxable years.

A winner’s gross income includes all income received in the form of money, goods, property, and services that is 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. Connecticut income tax applies to all gambling winnings included in federal adjusted gross income.

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 complete federal Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, by providing his or her name, address, and SSN, and by signing the declaration of the form, under penalties of perjury, that the information provided is correct.

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 at the time federal Form W-2G is completed. 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, one federal Form 5754, Statement by Person(s) Receiving Gambling Winnings, must be completed identifying each of the persons entitled to a share.  Federal Form 5754 is also used when the recipient is not a person entitled to a share. This form will list the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of all persons entitled to any payment of the winnings.  The form must be signed, under penalties 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 such 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, payments of gambling winnings are required to be reported 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.

Effect on Other Documents: Informational Publication 2001(29), Connecticut Income Tax Treatment of Gambling Winnings Other Than State Lottery Winnings, is modified and superseded and may not be relied upon on or after the date of issuance of this Informational Publication.