Photo : Justin Sullivan

Update 10/23/18: This post has been updated to reflect the new $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot.


Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot has reached a record $1.6 billion, but what the winner will actually take home depends on picking the annuity or the lump sum payment—and, of course, taxes.



The debate between whether to take the lump sum or the annuity is intense, although most winners opt for the lump sum. Remember, if you pick the annuity, you’ll pay taxes each year, on an annually increasing rate schedule. After the 24 percent federal take, the average annuity payment comes out to $40,533,333 per year for 30 years equaling around $1,215,999,990, while the lump sum total comes out to $687,724,000, per USA Mega.


Then there are state taxes to take into consideration. States including California and Delaware levy no tax on lottery earnings, which means you’ll walk away with a lot more money if you live in one of those states than someone from, say, New York.

USA Mega has a breakdown of both lump sum and annuity payment schedules, assuming you don’t split the pot (Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah do not sell lottery tickets):

Arizona: Five percent state tax for residents (Non-Arizona residents pay a six percent tax)

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

Arkansas: Seven percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,733,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,800,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,104,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $63,343,000 (net payout: $624,381,000)



California: No state tax on lottery winnings


Colorado: Four percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,133,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,400,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,152,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $36,196,000 (net payout: $651,528,000)



Connecticut: 6.99 percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,728,000 (avg. net pay per year: $36,805,333 ; after 30 payments: $1,104,159,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $63,252,510 (net payout: $624,471,490)



Delaware: No state tax on lottery winnings

Florida: No state tax on lottery winnings

Georgia: Six percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,200,000 (avg. net pay per year: $37,333,333 ; after 30 payments: $1,119,999,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $54,294,000 (net payout: $633,430,000)



Idaho: 7.4 percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,946,667 (avg. net pay per year: $36,586,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,097,599,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $66,962,600 (net payout: $620,761,400)



Illinois: 4.95 percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,640,000 (avg. net pay per year: $37,893,333 ; after 30 payments: $1,136,799,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $44,792,550 (net payout: $642,931,450)



Indiana: 3.23 percent state tax

Annuity: - $1,722,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,810,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,164,319,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $29,228,270 (net payout: $658,495,730)



Iowa: Five percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

Kansas: Five percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

Kentucky: Five percent state tax*

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

Louisiana: Five percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

Maine: Five percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

Maryland: 8.75 percent state tax for residents

Annuity: -$4,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $35,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,075,999,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $79,178,750 (net payout: $608,545,250)



Massachusetts: Five percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

Michigan: 4.25 percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,266,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,266,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,147,999,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $38,458,250 (net payout: $649,265,750)



Minnesota: 7.25 percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,866,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,666,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,099,999,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $65,605,250 (net payout: $622,118,750)



Missouri: Four percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,133,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,400,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,152,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $36,196,000 (net payout: $651,528,000)




Montana: 6.9 percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,680,000 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,853,333 ; after 30 payments: $1,105,599,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $62,438,100 (net payout: $625,285,900)



Nebraska: Five percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,666,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,866,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,135,999,980 )

; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $45,245,000 (net payout: $642,479,000)

New Hampshire: No tax on lottery winnings

New Jersey: Eight percent state tax

Annuity: - $4,266,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,266,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,087,999,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $72,392,000 (net payout: $615,332,000)



New Mexico: Six percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,200,000 (avg. net pay per year: $37,333,333 ; after 30 payments: $1,119,999,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $54,294,000 (net payout: $633,430,000)

New York: 8.82 percent state tax

Annuity: - $4,704,000 per year (avg. net pay per year: $35,829,333 ; after 30 payments: $1,074,879,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $79,812,180 (net payout: $607,911,820 )



) New York City and Yonkers levy an additional tax of 3.876 percent and 1.323 percent, respectively


North Carolina: 5.499 percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,932,800 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,600,533 ; after 30 payments: $1,128,015,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $49,760,451 (net payout: $637,963,549)



North Dakota: 2.9 percent state tax

Annuity: - $1,546,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,986,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,169,599,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $26,242,100 (net payout: $661,481,900)



Ohio: Four percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,133,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,400,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,152,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $36,196,000 (net payout: $651,528,000)

Oklahoma: Four percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,133,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,400,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,152,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $36,196,000 (net payout: $651,528,000)

Oregon: Eight percent state tax

Annuity: - $4,266,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,266,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,087,999,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $72,392,000 (net payout: $615,332,000)

Pennsylvania: 3.07% state tax

Annuity: -$1,637,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,896,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,166,880,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $27,780,430 (net payout: $659,943,570)



Puerto Rico: No state or federal taxes on income

Rhode Island: 5.99 percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,194,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,338,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,120,159,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $54,203,510 (net payout: $633,520,490)



South Carolina: Seven percent

Annuity: - $3,733,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,800,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,104,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $63,343,000 (net payout: $624,381,000)

South Dakota: No state income tax

Tennessee: No state tax on lottery winnings

Texas: No state income tax

US Virgin Islands: No state tax on lottery winnings

Vermont: Six percent state tax

Annuity: - $1,940,000 (avg. net pay per year: $22,633,333 ; after 30 payments: $678,999,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $32,916,000 (net payout: $384,020,000)

Virginia: Four percent state tax

Annuity: - $2,133,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $38,400,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,152,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $36,196,000 (net payout: $651,528,000)

Washington: No state tax on lottery winnings

Washington D.C.: 8.5 percent state tax

Annuity: - $4,533,333 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,000,000 ; after 30 payments: $1,080,000,000 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $76,916,500 (net payout: $610,807,500)



West Virginia: 6.5 percent state tax

Annuity: - $3,466,667 per year (avg. net pay per year: $37,066,666 ; after 30 payments: $1,111,999,980 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $58,818,500 (net payout: $628,905,500)



Wisconsin: 7.65 percent state tax

Annuity: - $4,080,000 per year (avg. net pay per year: $36,453,333 ; after 30 payments: $1,093,599,990 )



; after 30 payments: ) Lump sum: - $69,224,850 (net payout: $618,499,150)



Wyoming: No state tax on lottery winnings

*Kentucky’s state tax withholding on lottery winnings recently changed to five percent from six percent.