Can Florida Lottery Winners Remain Anonymous?
Calling all hopeful Florida lottery winners! When people win millions with the lottery, many wonder: Can lottery winners remain anonymous in Florida? Each state has unique laws regarding a lottery winner's privacy, and, in the state of Florida, winners cannot remain anonymous.
Why doesn't Florida allow lottery winners to remain anonymous?
Florida isn't a state where lottery winners can be anonymous due to the state's public disclosure laws around certain governmental records. According to the Florida Lottery website: "Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner's name, city of residence, game won, date won and amount won to any third party who requests the information; however, Florida Lottery winners' street addresses and telephone numbers are kept confidential."
That means that if you win big some of your details are a matter of the public record, including:
Full name
City of residence
Game won
Date won
Amount won
Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased
Winners of $250,000 do have a little wriggle room though. As of May 25, 2022, winners at or above this amount can delay the announcement of their information (and keep their info private) for 90 days after claiming their prize. This gives winners 3 months to get everything they need in order before the news breaks.
Claiming Florida Lottery Prizes with a Trust or LLC
While some lottery winners would shout it from the rooftops, others prefer a quieter, less public life away from the spotlight. Winners in Florida can set up a trust or limited liability company (LLC) to claim their lottery loot. Prepared to win big without the publicity? Check out the Florida Lottery Winner Claim Form for an Entity. There are associated costs for this, but you may decide your privacy is worth it!
Several of the biggest Florida lottery winners have used the trust or LLC approach to claim winning lottery tickets. A few winners from recent years include:
$1.602B Mega Millions (August 8, 2023) - claimed by Saltines Holdines, LL with a ticket purchased in Neptune Beach, FL
$1.586B Powerball (January 13, 2016) - Prize for 1 out of 3 total winning tickets claimed by The Nickel 95 Trust
$502M Mega Millions (October 14, 2022) - Prize for 1 out of 2 total winning tickets claimed by Pineapple Trust of Bonita Springs, FL
$414M Mega Millions (March 18, 2024) - Prize for 1 out of 2 total winning ticket claimed by Cobie and Seamus Trust of Merritt Island, FL
$396.8M Powerball (Jan 29, 2020) - claimed by Vacation Life LLC
$285M Powerball Millions (June 5, 2021) - claimed by The Love You More Trust
What To Do If You Win the Florida Lottery
Now that you’re no longer wondering, “Can Florida lottery winners remain anonymous,” we bet your next question is about how you’re going to handle all that dough if you do happen to win big. Follow these steps to make the most of your lottery winning experience:
Congratulate yourself on an amazing win!
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to claim your prize right away. You have time! In Florida, you have within 180 days of the draw date for draw games. For scratch games, you have 60 days from the official end-of-game date. And for games that offer a choice of payout (annuity vs cash option), you have 60 days from the drawing date to claim your prize and elect to take your winnings in cash.
Come up with a general plan about what you’re going to do with your winnings.
Get help! Hire a certified public accountant, financial planner or tax lawyer to help you determine how to best manage your money. They can help you decide whether to take your prize as a lump sum or whether the annuity option is better for you and your tax situation.
Set a budget. Even though you have more money than it seems like you know what to do with now, you’ll want to put together a financial plan.
Consider joining the ranks of lottery winners who donated their winnings by donating a portion of your winnings to your favorite charity.
Remember, each lottery has different rules and regulations regarding winners' anonymity. These fun tips are for your enjoyment and should not be considered legal advice for the lottery. Consult legal professionals who are familiar with the laws in your area to ensure you follow the proper procedures. Gooood luck!
This article originally appeared on Jackpocket.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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The Biggest Lottery Wins in Every State
What's the biggest lottery win in your state?
Wonder no more! Here's a list of the biggest lottery winnings by state in the U.S. This list covers the largest lottery winnings with a single lottery ticket (no sharing!) in each state.
Any states not represented do not have a state lottery.
(Related: Luckiest States for Winning Powerball)
Prize: $410M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The first Mega Millions win in the state is also the biggest jackpot win ever in Arizona.
Prize: $177M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
This jackpot was won on April Fools Day...but this lottery prize is no joke.
Prize: $2.04B
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Drumroll for the biggest lottery jackpot in history!
Prize: $133M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A CO woman finally wins the jackpot after playing her numbers for 30 years.
Prize: $254.2M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Three wealth management co-workers won on 1 Quick Pick ticket.
Prize: $121M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Won by a group of 33 co-workers from a DE printing company.
Prize: $1.58B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
This ultra lucky winner secured the largest win in the game's history....but this lottery prize is no joke.
ULora/istockphoto
Prize: $648M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
"It's like I'm still dreaming."
Prize: $220.3M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A pick-your-own numbers victory in Idaho.."
knowlesgallery/istockphoto
Prize: $1.337B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
"It's the largest lottery prize ever won in Illinois..."
Prize: $536M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
This Hoosier bought their winning ticket on the way to their child's sports game.
Prize: $343.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
This single-mom nearly lost her ticket after dropping it on the floor of her sister's truck.
Prize: $218.6M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The winner said they were looking forward to early retirement.
Prize: $218.6M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
All of Kentucky's top jackpot winners won on Powerball.
Prize: $191M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A 3-member family partnership took home the prize.
Prize: $1.348B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
Maine won its first Mega Millions jackpot on a Friday the 13th.
Prize: $731.1M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
An anonymous group, known as "The Power Pack," said they would use the money to invest in their community.
Prize: $758.7M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A hospital worker opted for the lump sum.
Prize: $1.05B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
A lottery club bought their winning ticket at a local Kroger.
Prize: $229M
Game: Powerball
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"He is retired as of 14 or 15 hours ago," the winner's wife said.
Prize: $524K
Game: Match 5
Get the Story:
This is the biggest prize since MS lottery began selling tickets in 2019.
Prize: $192.4M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
"I think we'll have a good Christmas."
Prize: $48.5M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
"Mostly I've just got to let it sink in and let it feel real."
Prize: $365M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Eight ham processing plant co-workers became instant millionaires.
Prize: $559.7M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
"My client doesn't want any accolades, she doesn't want any credit. She just wants to do good things."
Prize: $559.7M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
The winning ticket was sold at ShopRite Liquor #781 in Neptune Township, NJ.
Prize: $206.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A group of friends chipped in for the winning ticket.
Prize: $432M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The biggest Big Apple win was sold at Pronto Pizza.
Prize: $344.6M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Numbers from a fortune cookie are responsible for this winner's good fortune.
Prize: $3M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
Two $3 million Mega Millions prizes are tied for biggest wins in ND.
Prize: $372M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
A record December lottery win set the stage for a very Happy Holiday.
Prize: $105.8M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
"Basically I just broke down and cried."
Prize: $1.326B
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Lottery gold won in Portland, Oregon
Prize: $516M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
"This is life-changing generational money."
Prize: $127M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
This prize marks the first winning Powerball jackpot ticket ever sold outside the continental U.S.
Prize: $336.4M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
"We are truly blessed."
Prize: $1.537B
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
"I can't even count that number."
Prize: $232.1M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
South Dakota's very own Powerball jackpot won in Pierre.
Prize: $420.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
"Everyone was screaming — just the joy!"
Prize: $420.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Someone in San Angelo matched all six numbers drawn & chose the cash option as the time of purchase.
Prize: $2M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
A St. Croix resident won by matching 5 numbers.
Prize: $366.7
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
Also the one and only Powerball jackpot won by VT.
Prize: $239M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
"Sweetheart, we got the numbers."
Prize: $754.6M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
The winner could opt for the annuity option or a one-time cash payment of $407.2 million.
Prize: $144M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
An 82-year-old lifelong resident took home the jackpot.
Prize: $314.9M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
The drawing took place on Christmas Day.
Prize: $768.4M
Game: Powerball
Get the Story:
"I just had that lucky feeling."
Prize: $5M
Game: Mega Millions
Get the Story:
The biggest lottery win in Wyoming was sold in Evanston.
The lottery is a game of chance. People use dozens of strategies to try and boost their chance of winning a life-changing prize. From scrutinizing the numbers (or choosing seemingly random numbers) to joining your lottery pool at work, there are many ways people choose to play. Do these strategies affect your odds? Not at all. Everyone has the same chance of picking the winning lottery numbers.
Can Lottery Winners Choose to Remain Anonymous?
When you learn about the most lottery winnings by state, we bet you want to know if those winners had the option to remain anonymous when they claimed their prize. The answer is that it depends. States have their own rules about whether lottery winners can remain anonymous. And there may be stipulations on those rules, too. For example, in Texas, you can remain anonymous only if the prize won is over $1 million. Check your state lottery website for more information on which regulations apply to you.
(Related: These Are the "Luckiest" Powerball Numbers in 2024)
ablokhin / iStock
So, what happens if you win? If you join the biggest lottery winners, be ready to give Uncle Sam his piece of the pie. Any winnings above $599.99 are considered income in the eyes of the IRS and will be taxed as such. Your normal income tax rate will be charged for prizes from $600 to $4,999.99. Once you hit $5,000, the IRS will take 24% of your total winnings.
Depending on your other income, this could push you into a higher tax bracket, so be prepared to pay the difference between what the IRS has already taken and your actual tax bracket in additional taxes. For example, if your total income between work and your lottery winnings puts you in the 37% tax bracket, you will owe an additional 13% of your winnings back to the government.
This article originally appeared on Jackpocket.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
