How Much Will Louisiana Taxes Take Of Your Powerball Winnings Tonight?

If you're lucky enough to win the over $1.7 Billion Powerball jackpot tonight, we'll tell you how much money will be Louisiana's cut.

I'll be buying a few tickets when I get off of work tonight and cross everything I can cross hoping for a big win.

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If someone wins tonight, the federal government will take 24% off the top for income taxes and the winner may still owe more taxes at the end of the year. Most financial experts advise their clients to take the lump sum cash payment. It is currently sitting at $757 million. That figures out to be an initial loss of $182 million to federal taxes.

But, the winner will lose even more money from the jackpot if they live in a state with income taxes. Louisiana is one of those states.

Here are the states with a higher income tax rate than Louisiana:

• Washington, D.C.: 10.75%
• Maryland: 8.95%
• New York: 8.82%
• New Jersey: 8%
• Oregon: 8%
• Wisconsin: 7.65%
• Minnesota: 7.25%
• South Carolina: 7%
• Connecticut: 6.99%
• Montana: 6.90%
• Idaho: 6.50%
• West Virginia: 6.50%
• Vermont: 6%
• Rhode Island: 5.99%
• New Mexico: 5.90%
• Georgia: 5.75%
• Arkansas: 5.50%
• Iowa: 5%
• Kansas: 5%
• Kentucky: 5%
• Maine: 5%
• Massachusetts: 5%
• Mississippi: 5%
• Nebraska: 5%
• North Carolina: 4.99%
• Illinois: 4.95%
• Ohio: 4.80%

The Bayou State has a 4.75% income tax rate. So if the winner is from Louisiana and they choose to get the cash payout, they'll have to pay Louisiana $36 million for income taxes.

If you win tonight and you choose to take the annuity payments, I would recommend moving to one of the states below. Otherwise, if you stay in Louisiana, the state and the federal government will both get their cut every year for the next 30 years. That adds up to a ton of cash.

States without income taxes:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming