Are South African lottery winnings taxable?
Are you dreaming of hitting the largest of lottery jackpots? We certainly are! However, many people are wary of playing lotteries since they’re unsure of the taxing rules and regulations.
If you wish to get rid of your lottery anxieties, you should pay attention to this article. We’ll discuss all there is to know about lottery wins, how to win lottery in South Africa, and everything taxes. Let’s dive right in.
Lottery winnings in SA and taxes
There is no withholding tax on lottery winnings in South Africa. The SA LOTTO prize money is not subject to income tax since it is not considered income. Winners of South African lottery prizes also enjoy a favorable exemption from the country’s Capital Gains Tax.
Therefore, any lottery winnings are completely tax-free. Several other foreign countries impose taxes on lottery wins; thus, this is a significant benefit for South Africans. While South African tax regulations are generally strict, there is one major exemption.
If you professionally play the lottery or engage in professional gambling, any winnings you win on a regular basis will be treated as income and taxed as such. Those who play the LOTTO but are not professional gamblers are obligated to report large wins to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). You won’t be taxed on the amount, but you should report your win nonetheless.
How to handle your taxes if you’ve won the lottery?
A tax attorney should be your first call after hitting it big. If you’ve just come into a large sum of money, we have no doubt that you could afford to contact a lawyer. They will be able to calm your fears and clarify your next steps. Finally, someone who knows what they’re talking about. Having said this, the chances are that you won’t have to pay any taxes on your lotto income.
What if I want to donate my SA lotto win?
If you are a good Samaritan and wish to donate all or a part of your win to your friends, family, or a certain cause, there may be a tax you should take care of. This is called a donation tax. If your donation is R100,000 or less, you don’t have to pay any tax on it. Any larger sum is taxed at 20%.
Let’s illustrate this. Imagine you won R20,000. You wish to grant your family half the amount, You’re all clear as the donations of R10,000 are tax exempt. However, if you win a hefty sum of R500,000 and you wish to gift someone R250,000, this is how to proceed. Since the donations of R100,000 are tax-free, you will only be taxed on the remaining R150,000. Our nifty friend called the calculator and told us that 20% of 150,000 is 30,000. Therefore, you should pay a tax of R30,000 in this case.
What if I play the international lottery in South Africa?
No matter which lottery you win, you shouldn’t worry about it being taxed by the South African government. However, there may be some tax withholdings by the country of the lottery you chose to play. For example, if you were to play a US lottery, your winnings would be taxed by the US government. You don’t have to worry about filing a tax sheet. Most of the time, the amount will be withheld from your winnings automatically, and you will receive the already taxed amount.
If you wish to play the SA lottery but you’re from abroad, your winnings will be taxed by your country of residence. We advise you to consult a tax attorney who knows the ins and outs of your local tax law.
Do I have to pay tax on my casino winnings?
If you’re like the vast majority of gamblers (i.e., you have a day job and simply gamble sometimes for enjoyment), then your wins will not be taxed, but you must still report them to SARS. If, on the other hand, your only source of income is from winnings at bookmakers and casinos, then SARS would consider this to be a profit-generating plan, and you will be required to report your profits (and losses) and pay tax accordingly.
