How to Claim Prizes

If you were lucky enough to win a New Jersey lottery prize, you must start the claiming process in order to be able to receive your winnings. Here are top three things you need to know:

  • You need to claim your prize within one year of the day of the drawing.
  • The current claiming process takes four to six weeks.
  • You have the option of remaining anonymous.

Prizes Worth Up to $599.99

Congratulations on winning a prize! You may not be a millionaire yet but a prize of any amount could make your day better. You can receive your winnings in cash if you visit any authorized New Jersey Lottery retailer.

Alternatively, you can claim your prize by mail. Fill out and sign the back of your ticket, then complete a claim form and send it to:

  • New Jersey Lottery
  • Attn: Validations
  • P.O. Box 041
  • Trenton, NJ 08625-0041

Prizes Over $599.99

Great job on winning a substantial prize! In order to claim your prize, you need to fill out a claim form. You can find them at any New Jersey Lottery retailer or at the New Jersey Lottery Headquarters.

Tax Information

According to the federal law, the New Jersey Lottery would withhold 24% from any prize over $5,000. A 30% federal rate would apply if a non-U.S. citizen wins a prize of $600 or more.

Similarly, state law requires that the New Jersey Lottery will withhold 5% from any prizes with an amount between $10,000 and $500,000. If the prize is higher than $500,000, the withholding rate would be 8%. The 8% withholding rate also applies to players who won prizes over $10,000 and did not provide a taxpayer identification or social security number.

We recommend that you seek advice from a tax professional as tax is a complex issue and it can differ depending on the each person's circumstances.