Mega Millions $463 Million After Taxes in Louisiana
The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday, October 30, 2026, 11:00 pm ET, is $463 million, or $194.9 million cash. A single winner in Louisiana who takes the cash keeps about $117.0 million after federal tax and Louisiana's 3%.
Did anyone win?
Tuesday, October 27, 2026: ----, Mega Ball
Nobody matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball, so the $443 million jackpot rolls to $463 million (cash value $195 million) for Friday, October 30, 2026 at 11:00 pm ET.
If nobody wins on Friday, past runs put the November 3, 2026 jackpot near $485 million, and a Louisiana winner would keep about $122.6 million. A projection, not the operator's figure.
Lump sum vs annuity in Louisiana
One winner, single filer, 2026 federal brackets. Louisiana withholds 3%.
| Lump sum | Annuity, 30 years | |
|---|---|---|
| Before tax | $194.9 million | $463 million |
| Federal withheld, 24% | −$46.8 million | −$111.1 million |
| Louisiana withheld, 3% | −$5.8 million | −$13.9 million |
| Paid to you | $142.3 million | $338.0 million |
| Federal still due at filing | −$25.3 million | −$58.7 million |
| Kept after tax | $117.0 million | $279.3 million |
Federal: 24% withheld, up to 37% owed
The lottery withholds 24% for the IRS before it pays. A jackpot puts almost all of the prize in the 37% bracket, so the federal bill on the cash comes to $72,063,000, 37.0% of it, and the $25,287,000 the withholding missed is due with the return. Set it aside: the cheque is not what you keep.
Louisiana tax on a Mega Millions jackpot
Louisiana withholds 3%: $5.8 million of the cash value. What you finally owe Louisiana is settled on its return, at its own income-tax rates. That ranks Louisiana 14 of 46 lotteries by what a winner keeps: $5.8 million less than in a state with no lottery tax, $15.4 million more than in New York.
The annuity, year by year
Thirty payments, each 5% bigger than the last, taxed in the year it is paid.
| Payment | Before tax | After tax in Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $7.0 million | $4.2 million |
| Year 10 | $10.8 million | $6.5 million |
| Year 20 | $17.6 million | $10.6 million |
| Year 30 | $28.7 million | $17.3 million |
Every state side by side · Louisiana Mega Millions: numbers, add-ons, ticket value · Tax calculator for any prize
Mega Millions after taxes in Louisiana: questions
- How much is the Mega Millions jackpot after taxes in Louisiana?
- For Friday, October 30, 2026, the advertised jackpot is $463 million and the cash value $194.9 million. A single winner in Louisiana who takes the cash keeps about $117.0 million once the federal bill is paid at filing and Louisiana's 3%. The annuity pays about $4.2 million after tax in the first year and $279.3 million over 30 years.
- How much tax is taken out of Mega Millions winnings in Louisiana?
- At the claim, 24% federal and 3% for Louisiana: on the $194.9 million cash value that is $46.8 million and $5.8 million, leaving a cheque of $142.3 million. A jackpot is taxed at up to 37%, so about $25.3 million more is due with the federal return.
- Lump sum or annuity: which keeps more in Louisiana?
- Over 30 years the annuity pays more in total after tax, $279.3 million against $117.0 million for the cash, because the advertised jackpot is the sum of payments that rise 5% a year. The cash is all paid now and could be invested; almost every jackpot winner takes it.
- Did anyone win the Mega Millions jackpot on October 27, 2026?
- No. Nobody matched all five numbers and the Mega Ball, so the $443 million jackpot rolls to $463 million (cash value $195 million) for Friday, October 30, 2026 at 11:00 pm ET. The numbers and every prize tier.
- Do I pay Louisiana tax if I live in another state?
- Louisiana withholds its 3% from a prize won on a ticket bought here, wherever you live. Your home state may tax the prize too, usually with a credit for tax paid to the state where the ticket was sold. The calculator takes any rate.