Can You Write Off Casino Losses On Your Taxes

• The IRS requires you to keep a diary of your winnings and losses as a prerequisite to deducting losses from your winnings.
• That's because you're required to report each stroke of luck as taxable income — big or small, buddy or casino. If you itemize your deductions, you can offset your winnings by writing off your gambling losses. It may sound complicated, but TaxAct will walk you through the entire process, start to finish.

You can't reduce your gambling winnings ($500) by your gambling losses ($400) and only report the difference ($100) as income. If you itemize, you can claim a $400 deduction for your losses, but.

The IRS views winnings from gambling as taxable income, but did you know that you're allowed to deduct gambling losses, too? While losing money at a casino or the racetrack does not by itself relieve your tax burden, it can reduce taxes owed for your other winnings, ultimately saving you money.

How to know if you can deduct your gambling losses

Gambling loss deductions save you money by reducing your taxable income. But there's a trick to this—you can't claim gambling losses that exceed your winnings, as losses are inextricably linked to your winnings for tax purposes. If you have no winnings to claim, you can't deduct your losses.

Can You Write Off Casino Losses On Your Taxes Owed

As an example, let's say that in a given year you went gambling twice, winning $6,000 in one instance, but losing $8,000 in another. In this case, you can only deduct $6,000 from that $8,000 loss. The remaining $2,000 in losses can't be carried forward or written off. Conversely, if you won more than you lost, you'd owe taxes on the difference between your winnings and losses as 'other income'—but at least those taxes would be reduced.

(If you're a full-time, professional gambler the requirements are different: you will report your earnings like they have resulted from a business, as self-employed income).

Video: How to improve your credit score without a credit card (USA TODAY)

How to claim gambling losses

Deductible gambling losses can result from online casinos, poker games, sports betting, lotteries, prize draws, horse and dog racing, and even your office fantasy sports pool. To report any of these gambling losses, you'll be required to itemize your deductions. This makes sense if the total of all your itemized deductions exceeds the standard deduction ($12,400 for taxpayers who are single or are filing separately from their spouse). If you claim the standard deduction, you don't get the opportunity to reduce taxes for winnings owed by deducting gambling losses.

Keep in mind that you must be able to substantiate any losses you're claiming, which means you'll need to keep records of your gambling.

Track your winnings and losses

You can't just say 'I lost a bunch of money gambling' to the IRS. They require you to provide records of your winnings and losses to back your claim. Therefore, you should keep track of:

Can You Write Off Casino Losses On Your Taxes Refund

• the date and time of your gambling session
• the type of gambling
• the name and location of the gambling venue
• the people you gambled with
• how much you bet, won and lost

You should also keep credit cards statements, payout slips, receipts, tickets, bank withdrawal records, and statements of actual winnings. Other documentation can include:

• Form W-2G (typically given or mailed to you by casinos after a big payout)
• Form 5754 (a form for when you're part of a group that earns money through gambling; you might see one of these if you and your co-workers are cashing in a winning lottery ticket)

Can You Claim Casino Losses On Your Taxes

You can't reduce your gambling winnings ($500) by your gambling losses ($400) and only report the difference ($100) as income. If you itemize, you can claim a $400 deduction for your losses, but.

The IRS views winnings from gambling as taxable income, but did you know that you're allowed to deduct gambling losses, too? While losing money at a casino or the racetrack does not by itself relieve your tax burden, it can reduce taxes owed for your other winnings, ultimately saving you money.

How to know if you can deduct your gambling losses

Gambling loss deductions save you money by reducing your taxable income. But there's a trick to this—you can't claim gambling losses that exceed your winnings, as losses are inextricably linked to your winnings for tax purposes. If you have no winnings to claim, you can't deduct your losses.

Can You Write Off Casino Losses On Your Taxes Owed

As an example, let's say that in a given year you went gambling twice, winning $6,000 in one instance, but losing $8,000 in another. In this case, you can only deduct $6,000 from that $8,000 loss. The remaining $2,000 in losses can't be carried forward or written off. Conversely, if you won more than you lost, you'd owe taxes on the difference between your winnings and losses as 'other income'—but at least those taxes would be reduced.

(If you're a full-time, professional gambler the requirements are different: you will report your earnings like they have resulted from a business, as self-employed income).

Video: How to improve your credit score without a credit card (USA TODAY)

How to claim gambling losses

Deductible gambling losses can result from online casinos, poker games, sports betting, lotteries, prize draws, horse and dog racing, and even your office fantasy sports pool. To report any of these gambling losses, you'll be required to itemize your deductions. This makes sense if the total of all your itemized deductions exceeds the standard deduction ($12,400 for taxpayers who are single or are filing separately from their spouse). If you claim the standard deduction, you don't get the opportunity to reduce taxes for winnings owed by deducting gambling losses.

Keep in mind that you must be able to substantiate any losses you're claiming, which means you'll need to keep records of your gambling.

Track your winnings and losses

You can't just say 'I lost a bunch of money gambling' to the IRS. They require you to provide records of your winnings and losses to back your claim. Therefore, you should keep track of:

Can You Write Off Casino Losses On Your Taxes Refund

• the date and time of your gambling session
• the type of gambling
• the name and location of the gambling venue
• the people you gambled with
• how much you bet, won and lost

You should also keep credit cards statements, payout slips, receipts, tickets, bank withdrawal records, and statements of actual winnings. Other documentation can include:

• Form W-2G (typically given or mailed to you by casinos after a big payout)
• Form 5754 (a form for when you're part of a group that earns money through gambling; you might see one of these if you and your co-workers are cashing in a winning lottery ticket)

Can You Claim Casino Losses On Your Taxes

Can You Claim Gambling Losses On Your Taxes Australia

Do you or someone you know need help with a gambling problem? Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network (1-800-522-4700).