Claiming Prizes FAQs
For more information on this topic, see our Claiming
Prizes page.
How long does a player have to claim a prize?
The claim period varies by game. Scratch tickets are valid for 90 days after the announced
end of the game. Pull-tab ticket prizes must be claimed at the place where the ticket was sold, also within 90 days
of the announced end of the game. Iowa's Pick 3 and Pick 4 tickets are valid for 90 days from the date of the
drawing. Iowa's InstaPlay tickets are valid for 90 days from the date of purchase.
Powerball and Lotto America: Prizes won before or on April 22, 2023, must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for
which they were eligible; prizes for the April 24, 2023, drawing or later must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing for which they were eligible.
Mega Millions: Prizes won before or on April 21, 2023, must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for
which they were eligible; prizes for the April 25, 2023, drawing or later must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing for which they were eligible.
Lucky for Life: Prizes won before or on April 22, 2023, must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for
which they were eligible; prizes for the April 23, 2023, drawing or later must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing for which they were eligible.
How are large lottery prizes claimed? Does the winner have to go to Des Moines?
Prizes of up to $600 in lotto and instant-scratch games may be redeemed at any lottery retail location
in the state if sufficient funds are available. Pull-tab prizes of up to $600, however, must be
redeemed at the same retail location where the ticket was purchased.
Prizes of more than $600* may be claimed by visiting an
Iowa Lottery office or by mail.
To claim a prize by mail, complete the name and address information on the back of your ticket and
sign the signature line. A parent or guardian must also sign the ticket for any claimant who is a minor.
For prizes of $100 or more, a completed copy of our
Winner Claim Form and Federal
Form W-9 also are required. For prizes of more than $600, those two documents are required along
with a legible, valid copy of the winner's government-issued photo identification. (Acceptable examples
include: driver's license, state I.D. card, passport or permanent resident card.)
Mail the ticket with your completed Winner Claim Form, Form W-9 and copy of photo I.D. (if applicable) to:
Iowa Lottery
13001 University Ave
Clive, IA 50325-8225
*Please note that all prizes of more than $250,000, as well as some special merchandise prizes,
must be claimed in person at the Iowa Lottery headquarters office.
Can players claim a prize as a group?
Prizes can be paid to players who play as a group. A check can be written to an entity such as a trust
or to a single individual. If an individual claims the prize on behalf of a group, they must indicate this
on the winner claim form. In addition, they must submit an Federal
Form 5754, listing all the winners of the prize with their address and tax identification information, when
claiming the prize. This ensures that the prize and tax withheld is correctly allocated to each group
member. The lottery suggests that the back of the ticket should not be signed until the group has determined how the ticket will be submitted on the winner claim form.
When does the Iowa Lottery deduct state and federal tax from a player's prize?
The Iowa Lottery does not withhold tax for prizes of $600 or less. By law, prizes of more than $600 will
face a 5 percent state withholding tax. If a player wins more than $5,000, an additional 24 percent federal
withholding tax will be withheld when the prize is claimed.
What tax information is provided to the winner?
All winners of prizes of more than $600 will receive a Federal Form W2-G from the Iowa Lottery. This form
will show the prize won and all tax withheld. This information should be filed with the winner's income tax
form. The tax withheld will be a credit toward taxes owed; winners may get some of it back, or may have to pay more,
depending on their income.
For prizes won in a particular calendar year, Form W2-G will be mailed out no later than Jan. 31 of the
following year. If a player won a prize greater than $600 and moved since they claimed the prize, they should
contact the Iowa Lottery at 515.725.7900 with their updated address information to ensure the W2-G is sent
to the correct address.
Is the lottery required to withhold money an individual may owe to the state?
Yes. The lottery is required by law to withhold income offsets, or amounts that may be owed to various government
agencies, from prize payments. Winners receive any balance remaining after application of the offset.
When I was contacted regarding winning a VIP Club promotion prize, DocuSign was referenced. What is DocuSign?
DocuSign is a secure site that allows Iowa Lottery VIP Club promotion prize winners to sign documents - in this case a claim form and W-9 -
and file them electronically to save a stamp or a trip to the lottery office.
NOTE: DocuSign is only used to claim prizes won by entering a VIP Club Promotion.
It is NOT used to claim ticket winnings at this time.
For further information on the DocuSign process, please visit our DocuSign FAQ page.
Return to top↑