Like other income in the United States, the IRS taxes lottery winnings. Lottery winnings are considered ordinary taxable income for both federal and state tax purposes. Winnings are taxed the same as wages or salaries are, and the total amount the winner receives must be reported on their tax return each year. You are required to report your gambling winnings, including lottery winnings, on your annual tax return. If you win a lottery and you win over a certain amount, the lottery will issue you a Form W-2G, which you'll use to add the winnings to your 1040.The Form W-2G reports your winnings and also reports whether any taxes were withheld before payout. If you won the Powerball lottery, expect to pay 37 percent in federal tax on your winnings, along with any state taxes. That’s the new top tax rate under the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on December 22, 2017.