USA Mega

Mega Millions Jackpot Analysis for Fri, Feb 21, 1997

Media: You may freely use any information on this page, but you must credit usamega.com.

The tax information provided here is based on 2024 federal marginal rates and state tax rates.  We show both the initial mandated federal withholding of 24% as well as the remaining federal taxes that will be due.  The initial state withholding taxes are based on published guidance from each state lottery and the final state tax rates are from state government publications.

All annuity amounts shown are the average amounts a jackpot winner would receive.  Mega Millions annuity payments are made on an annually-increasing rate schedule, so to see what the payments would be on a year-by-year basis for any state, click the Annual Payment Schedule link next to the state.

Important:  Be sure to review the Important Notes section at the bottom of the page, which provide additional context about the numbers presented here.

AnnuityCash
Mega Millions Jackpot for Fri, Feb 21, 1997
$17,000,000
$0
Gross Prize
30 average annual payments of $566,667
Cash: $0
- 24% federal tax
- $136,000
- $0
- Add'l federal taxes due (37% final rate)
- $32,708
- $0


Subtotal
$397,959
$0
- State Tax:

Arizona: 2.5% state tax
- $14,167
- $0
Your average net per year: $383,792Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,513,760
Annuity Payment Schedule

Arkansas: 3.9% state tax
- $22,100
- $0
Your average net per year: $375,859Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,275,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

California: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Colorado: 4% state tax withheld
- $22,667
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (4.4% final rate)
- $2,267
- $0
Your average net per year: $373,025Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,190,750
Annuity Payment Schedule

Connecticut: 6.99% state tax
- $39,610
- $0
Your average net per year: $358,349Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,750,470
Annuity Payment Schedule

Delaware: 0% state tax withheld
- $0
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (6.6% final rate)
- $37,400
- $0
Your average net per year: $360,559Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,816,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Florida: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Georgia: 5.49% state tax
- $31,110
- $0
Your average net per year: $366,849Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,005,470
Annuity Payment Schedule

Idaho: 5.695% state tax
- $32,272
- $0
Your average net per year: $365,687Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,970,610
Annuity Payment Schedule

Illinois: 4.95% state tax
- $28,050
- $0
Your average net per year: $369,909Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,097,270
Annuity Payment Schedule

Indiana: 3.05% state tax
- $17,283
- $0
Your average net per year: $380,675Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,420,250
Annuity Payment Schedule

Iowa: 5% state tax withheld
- $28,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (5.7% final rate)
- $3,967
- $0
Your average net per year: $365,659Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,969,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Kansas: 5% state tax withheld
- $28,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (5.7% final rate)
- $3,967
- $0
Your average net per year: $365,659Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,969,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Kentucky: 4% state tax
- $22,667
- $0
Your average net per year: $375,292Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,258,760
Annuity Payment Schedule

Louisiana: 4.75% state tax
- $26,917
- $0
Your average net per year: $371,042Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,131,260
Annuity Payment Schedule

Maine: 5% state tax withheld
- $28,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (7.15% final rate)
- $12,183
- $0
Your average net per year: $357,442Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,723,260
Annuity Payment Schedule

Maryland: 8.95% state tax for in-state residents
- $50,717
- $0
Your average net per year: $347,242Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,417,260
Annuity Payment Schedule
Non-Maryland residents: 8% state tax withheld
- $45,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (8.95% final rate)
- $5,383
- $0
Your average net per year: $347,242Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,417,260
Annuity Payment Schedule

Massachusetts: 5% state tax withheld
- $28,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (9% final rate)
- $22,667
- $0
Your average net per year: $346,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,408,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Michigan: 4.25% state tax
- $24,083
- $0
Your average net per year: $373,875Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,216,250
Annuity Payment Schedule

Minnesota: 7.25% state tax withheld
- $41,083
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (9.85% final rate)
- $14,733
- $0
Your average net per year: $342,142Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,264,260
Annuity Payment Schedule

Mississippi: 4.7% state tax
- $26,633
- $0
Your average net per year: $371,325Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,139,750
Annuity Payment Schedule

Missouri: 4% state tax withheld
- $22,667
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (4.95% final rate)
- $5,383
- $0
Your average net per year: $369,909Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,097,270
Annuity Payment Schedule

Montana: 5.9% state tax
- $33,433
- $0
Your average net per year: $364,525Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,935,750
Annuity Payment Schedule

Nebraska: 5% state tax withheld
- $28,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (5.84% final rate)
- $4,760
- $0
Your average net per year: $364,865Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,945,950
Annuity Payment Schedule

New Hampshire: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

New Jersey: 8% state tax withheld
- $45,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (10.75% final rate)
- $15,583
- $0
Your average net per year: $337,042Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,111,260
Annuity Payment Schedule

New Mexico: 5.9% state tax
- $33,433
- $0
Your average net per year: $364,525Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,935,750
Annuity Payment Schedule

New York: 8.82% state tax withheld
- $49,980
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (10.9% final rate)
- $11,787
- $0
Your average net per year: $336,192Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,085,760
Annuity Payment Schedule

North Carolina: 4.5% state tax
- $25,500
- $0
Your average net per year: $372,459Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,173,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

North Dakota: 2.9% state tax
- $16,433
- $0
Your average net per year: $381,525Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,445,750
Annuity Payment Schedule

Ohio: 3.5% state tax
- $19,833
- $0
Your average net per year: $378,125Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,343,750
Annuity Payment Schedule

Oklahoma: 4.75% state tax
- $26,917
- $0
Your average net per year: $371,042Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,131,260
Annuity Payment Schedule

Oregon: 8% state tax withheld
- $45,333
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (9.9% final rate)
- $10,767
- $0
Your average net per year: $341,859Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,255,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Pennsylvania: 3.07% state tax
- $17,397
- $0
Your average net per year: $380,562Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,416,860
Annuity Payment Schedule

Rhode Island: 5.99% state tax
- $33,943
- $0
Your average net per year: $364,015Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,920,450
Annuity Payment Schedule

South Carolina: 6.4% state tax
- $36,267
- $0
Your average net per year: $361,692Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,850,760
Annuity Payment Schedule

South Dakota: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Tennessee: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Texas: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

U.S. Virgin Islands: Unknown state tax rate
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Vermont: 6% state tax withheld
- $34,000
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (8.75% final rate)
- $15,583
- $0
Your average net per year: $348,375Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,451,250
Annuity Payment Schedule

Virginia: 4% state tax withheld
- $22,667
- $0
Add'l state taxes due (5.75% final rate)
- $9,917
- $0
Your average net per year: $365,375Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,961,250
Annuity Payment Schedule

Washington: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

Washington, D.C.: 10.75% state tax
- $60,917
- $0
Your average net per year: $337,042Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,111,260
Annuity Payment Schedule

West Virginia: 6.5% state tax
- $36,833
- $0
Your average net per year: $361,125Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,833,750
Annuity Payment Schedule

Wisconsin: 7.65% state tax
- $43,350
- $0
Your average net per year: $354,609Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $10,638,270
Annuity Payment Schedule

Wyoming: No state tax on lottery prizes
Your average net per year: $397,959Your net payout: $0
After 30 payments: $11,938,770
Annuity Payment Schedule

New York imposes additional withholding if you live in one of the following jurisdictions: New York City (3.876%) and Yonkers (1.477%).

Important Notes

  1. The federal taxes approximated above are based on the 2024 marginal tax tables published by the IRS. We perform a marginal tax calculation, which does provide a good representation of the federal tax burden, but it is a "worst case scenario" because of the lack of deductions (see next note).
  2. The tax amounts listed above do not include any standard or itemized deducations that would result in a lower tax burden.  Since every individual winner's situation differs, and every winner chooses to dispense their winnings in a different manner, there is no way for us to determine what your exact final tax burden will be.  For example, someone who gives away a large amount to charities or opens certain types of investments would have a vastly different tax burden than someone who buys new cars and houses.
  3. The state tax rates withheld by the lottery, as well as the final state income tax rates, are amounts that USA Mega found in publicly-available sources. It is possible that niche tax law in a state would add or subtract from the state tax burden faced by a winner, but that is beyond the scope of this analysis.
  4. Although federal taxes are calculated according to marginal tax rates (graduated-rate brackets), all state taxes are shown as a fixed-rate calculation.  In states that calculate tax with graduated rates this results in our chart showing a slightly higher tax burden than what would actually be due.
  5. Selecting a Federal Filing Status above only makes changes to the federal taxes shown.  Because all state taxes are shown as a fixed-rate calculation (see previous note), changing the filing status does not affect the state taxes in this chart.  If your state uses graduated rates your actual state tax burden will change based on your filing status.
  6. The jurisdiction in which you live may impose additional local taxes, beyond those listed here.  Please verify all information with your local government tax agency.
  7. State lotteries typically deduct other amounts from prize payments, such as delinquent child support payments, back taxes owed, outstanding student loans, and other government agency responsibilities.
  8. If you are not a U.S. resident, you will typically have a flat 30% federal withholding, and state taxes may differ from what is listed above.  Consult with your local government tax authority for more information if you are not a U.S. resident.  The 30% flat withholding is a dictate by the Internal Revenue Service, in conjunction with the Federal Government, not something created by the state lottery.  Therefore, questions about the purpose of the withholding should be directed to the IRS (1-800-424-1040).
  9. The states modify their tax withholding rates from time to time, and this chart is accurate as to our latest information we could track down.  It is possible that the tax rate provided above is outdated, although we try not to let that happen.  If you are aware of a percentage being out of date, please contact us to let us know, and we will update it.
  10. If you are viewing the Jackpot Analysis for a past drawing date, keep in mind you are viewing the application of the current tax rates against past jackpot amounts.  If the tax rates have changed since that drawing date, the report is not an accurate snapshot of the taxes that would have been withheld on that date in history.  Instead, you are looking at the taxes that would be withheld if the jackpot were won today.
  11. If you win the jackpot, consult a good accountant and tax attorney for ways to minimize your tax liability — before you claim the prize.  Also consider donating a substantial amount to the owner of this website, because he gave you such great advice when you needed it most.