Powerball 2026: How to Claim Winnings, Next Drawing & Taxes
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Powerball jackpot searches are spiking this week. Drawings every Mon, Wed & Sat at 10:59 PM ET.
Ticket cutoff: 10:00 PM ET · $2 per play · Odds: 1 in 292 million
Powerball · Último sorteo: 05 08 27 29 63 13 (2026-08-15)
Próximo sorteo: 2026-08-17 · Sigue la cobertura del boleto de $1.04B en Quincy, IL.
Powerball drawings happen every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET. Tickets are $2 and sales cut off at 10 PM ET. If you win the jackpot, sign the ticket immediately, store it safely, and contact your state lottery — deadlines range from 90 to 180 days by state. Winners choose between a 30-payment annuity (full advertised amount) or a lump sum (roughly half). Federal tax withholds 24% upfront (top bracket 37%), plus state taxes vary.
Powerball is America's most popular lottery, offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands — and, since July 21, 2026, the United Kingdom. With jackpots regularly climbing into the hundreds of millions, "who won the Powerball" and "how to claim" are among the most-searched queries every time the prize rolls over.
When Is the Next Powerball Drawing?
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Drawing days | Monday, Wednesday & Saturday |
| Drawing time | 10:59 PM Eastern Time |
| Ticket sales cutoff | 10:00 PM ET (some states earlier) |
| Ticket price | $2 (Power Play +$1, Double Play +$1) |
| Minimum jackpot | $20 million |
| Jackpot odds | 1 in 292,201,338 |
How to Claim Powerball Winnings
- ✍️ Sign the back of the ticket immediately — an unsigned ticket is cashable by anyone holding it
- 🔒 Store it in a safe place — make a copy or photo for your records
- 🏛️ Contact your state lottery — for large prizes you'll claim at lottery headquarters (most require an appointment)
- 📅 Respect the deadline — most states require claims within 90 to 180 days of the drawing (check your state)
- 💼 Consider professional advice — for jackpots, lottery winners often work with financial and legal advisors
Annuity vs. Lump Sum: What's Better?
| Option | How It Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annuity | 30 graduated payments over 29 years, +5% each year | Full advertised jackpot; built-in annual increase | Long-term commitment; winner must live to collect all |
| Lump Sum | Cash value (~half of advertised) paid at once | Full control immediately; invest as you choose | Roughly half the headline amount |
Most winners choose the lump sum for immediate control of the money. The record $2.04 billion jackpot (November 2022, won in Altadena, California) had a cash value of about $997 million.
Can You Stay Anonymous? State-by-State Rules
Whether you can claim a jackpot anonymously depends entirely on your state. About a third of Powerball states allow some form of anonymity — either outright, or via a trust or LLC. This is the #1 question lottery winners search for, and the rules changed recently in several states.
| State | Can You Stay Anonymous? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois 🇺🇸 | ✅ Yes | Full anonymity since 2021 — the $1.04B Quincy winner may never appear publicly |
| Arizona | ✅ Yes | Anonymity granted since 2019 for prizes over $100k |
| Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina | ✅ Yes | Allow winners to claim via trust/LLC without naming individuals |
| New Jersey | ✅ Yes | One of the first states to allow anonymity (2020) |
| North Carolina | 🟡 Partial | Anonymous 90 days for prizes ≥$50M; name released after |
| Texas | 🟡 Partial | Anonymity only via trust claim (limited) |
| New York, Florida, California | ❌ No | Winner's name is public record — required by law |
| Washington, West Virginia | ✅ Yes | Anonymity allowed for winners over certain thresholds |
| Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah | — | No Powerball sold in these states |
⚠️ Laws change frequently — verify with your state lottery before claiming. In most states, signing a trust before claiming keeps your name out of the press.
What to Do the Moment You Win (Checklist)
- 🛡️ Don't tell anyone except a trusted advisor — protect yourself from scammers and lawsuits
- ✍️ Sign the back of the ticket in front of a witness, with photo of both sides
- ⚖️ Consult a lottery attorney FIRST — especially before using a trust in states that allow it
- 📅 Check your state's claim deadline (90–180 days typically) and claim window
- 💰 Decide annuity vs. lump sum with a financial advisor before the claim appointment
Before you claim, protect your ticket and your identity. These are the tools lottery attorneys recommend every winner have on hand:
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Taxes on Powerball Winnings
- 🇺🇸 Federal: 24% withheld upfront; top marginal rate is 37%
- 🏛️ State: Varies — some states tax lottery winnings, others don't
- 🇬🇧 UK (2026 expansion): Winnings are not taxed, but UK jackpot winners must take the 30-year annuity (no lump sum)
Fun Facts & Records
- 💰 Record jackpot: $2.04 billion — won November 2022 in Altadena, California
- 🎂 Fortune cookie legend: A 2005 winner used fortune cookie numbers
- 🌍 UK expansion: Powerball launched in the UK on July 21, 2026, its first expansion outside the US
- ❌ No lottery states: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah do not sell Powerball
