The process of claiming lottery prizes is easy in Washington, though the amount you win will give you different options on how to get your winnings. Read up here to see how to claim prizes from WA scratch games.
It's iportant to note that you'll only have 180 days after the scratch game closure to come forward.
Prizes of $599 or Below - You can claim prizes up to $100 from any Washington Lottery retailer. It may also be possible to cash in up to $599, although this depends on the individual retailer and how much money they have available to pay out. You can also claim prizes of this value by mail or from a lottery office, without having to fill out a claim form.
Though some retailers may not hold enough cash for you to receive your winnings, if you win a prize under $600 then you are able to claim at a retailer in most cases. Therefore, with any larger prizes within this bracket, you may wish to consider going to a larger retailer who is more likely to have enough cash on hand.
For any prizes between $600 and $100,000 you can use the mail-in system for Washington Lottery. Be sure to sign the back of your ticket and to include a claim form! It is recommended to call the Washington regional office that you plan to visit first.
For prizes of $100,000 or more, you'll need to make an appointment at one of the Washington regional offices. Regardless of which one you go to, remember to sign the back of your ticket, bring photo ID, your social security card, and a voided check (optional).
Note: All prizes over $100 millions will need to be claimed at Washington's Lottery Headquarters, 814 E 4th Avenue, Olympia WA.
Find the addresses of the Washington Lottery's offices below.
Lottery winnings are treated as earned income by the IRS. Therefore, for any individual prizes that exceeds $600, the Washington Lottery must report the winnings to the Intrenal Revenue Service. If your prize is more than $5,000, federal tax laws require the Lottery to withhold 24% for U.S. residens, and 30% for non-resident alience, at the time of the payout.To assist with tax filing, winners will receive a W-2G tax by the end of January, in accordance with federal reporting requirements.