Learn how to claim a prize in New Jersey if you win on a scratch-off, whether you need to redeem a ticket worth just a few dollars or you have just become a millionaire.
Do NJ scratch-offs expire? Yes, but only after the official end date of the game has passed. While tickets are still active and on sale, there is no deadline, but as soon as the game is closed, you have up to one year to come forward and claim. Find out which scratch-offs have recently ended.
Claiming prizes is straightforward, but your options are different depending on how much you win.
Prizes of $599.99 or Below - For a scratch-off win up to $599.99, all you need to do is take your winning ticket to a New Jersey Lottery retailer. It will be validated straight away and the retailer will be able to hand out your winnings in cash. If you prefer, you can claim your prize by mail (instructions below).
Prizes of $600 and Above – Prizes of $600 and over can be collected in a number of ways, but you won’t be able to go to an NJ Lottery retailer. Make sure to file a claim form and to sign the back of your ticket. The simplest way to get your prize is to send in your ticket and claim form by mail, but you can also come in person and leave it in a secure drop box at the New Jersey Lottery headquarters in Trenton. If you would prefer to make an appointment, call the lottery on 1-800-222-0996 and they will schedule a time for you to visit.
The address of the New Jersey Lottery headquarters is as follows:
Regardless of the value of your prize, it will take approximately six weeks for it to be processed from the date that it is received by the New Jersey Lottery. You can opt to stay anonymous if you win a major prize.
To claim a prize by mail, you need to send your winning ticket and completed claim form to the following address:
There are state and federal taxes to be aware of if you win a big scratch-off prize. The rate of state tax is 5 percent for prizes between $10,000 and $500,000, or 8 percent for prizes above $500,000. You’ll also have to pay the higher rate of tax if you cannot provide a taxpayer identification (social security) number. The federal withholding is 24 percent on prizes above $5,000, rising to 30 percent if you do not have a taxpayer ID number.