Can you claim gambling losses on your taxes?

A gambling loss occurs when one loses a game of wager or chance. It is because such games have uncertain outcomes. These losses can be claimed only against gambling income. Gambling losses will include the actual cost of wagers plus related expenses such as travel to and from the casino. In the U.S.A., the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a governmental body responsible for collecting taxes and enforcement of taxation laws, considers gambling wins as an income.

Consequently, people are required to pay tax on such winnings. One’s gambling winnings and losses have to be reflected in the tax return as it would be a taxable income. Moreover, people shall play baccarat online on reliable sites to keep their data protected.

Understanding Gambling Loss

As stated, gambling loss is the loss resulting from the games of chance or wager like gambling. The taxpayers must maintain a diary of their winnings and losses to claim a deduction from tax. The taxpayer must also include the date and type of gambling, the name, address of the gambling venue, etc. Punters can play slot games like 5 Dragon slots on different websites, but they must know the details of gambling losses before that. Whether it is a $5 win or a $300 win, each win is reflected in the tax return. The only golden rule is that the gambling losses to be deducted cannot exceed the winnings reflected as gambling income. For example, if the winnings are $5000 and the losses are $7000, a taxpayer can only deduct $5000. The remaining $2000 cannot be carried forward or written off in the future years. Gambling losses can be deducted from the tax if the person itemizes its deductions. An itemized deduction means an expense on eligible products, services, etc., that can be subtracted from the gross income to reduce the payable tax amount. If the digits are reversed, $2000 can be claimed as an itemized deduction.

Usually, if a person earns more than $5000 in a wager where the payout is at least 300 times the amount of the bet, the IRS requires that 24% of the total winnings be withheld for income taxes. Next year, the amount so withheld can be included under the head ‘federal income tax withheld,’ This will be subtracted from the tax owed. If one is a professional gambler, the gambling losses can be deducted as business expenses without itemizing them. However, this requires that the primary purpose be to earn profit and the person should be regularly and continually involved in it.

Conclusion

Gambling losses can be deducted from the payable tax provided that such gambling losses should not exceed the total winnings from the game that are reflected as income to the IRS. Punters can refer to FAQs on gambling on this thread. Gambling losses can have drastic effects because one can become an addict in the hope of making good all the losses. Besides, large gambling losses can lead to embezzlements, etc., and can affect a person’s personal life in many negative ways.