Jan 07, 2009  Yes, you can write off gambling losses. You must ALSO claim as income any gambling WINNINGS. You claim the losses (and winnings) on the Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) and must file a form 1040 (not 1040A or EZ) in order to itemize deductions, and you must have more deductions (total) than the standard deduction-which for a single person is $5,450. Gambling activities considered a trade or business You can deduct wagering losses (for as much as you won) from your personal income taxes, but only if your wagering activities are considered a trade or business. For professional gambling, your gambling activity is considered a trade or business if it is: Pursued full time; In good faith. Writing off your gambling losses on taxes. Like – Click this link to Add this page to your bookmarks Share – Click this link to Share this page through email or social media Print – Click this link to Print this page. IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2012-24, August 29, 2012.

1. Where To Put Gambling Losses
2. Writing Off Gambling Losses On Taxes
3. Irs Rules On Gambling Winnings And Losses

If you had a successful night at the slots or poker tables, you're going to have to share some of the lucky proceeds with Uncle Sam. The Internal Revenue Service generally requires that you report your gambling winnings and losses separately when you file your taxes rather than combining the two amounts.

Record Keeping

As you gamble during the year, you need to keep records of your winnings and losses so that you can support whatever figures you report on your taxes. The IRS permits you to use per-session recording, which means that instead of recording whether you won or lost each time you pull the slot machine, you can simply record your total for the session. Your records should include the date and type of gambling, where you gambled and if you gambled with anyone else, such as a home poker game. If you win more than $600, you should receive a Form W-2G from the casino.

Taxable Winnings

When figuring your gambling winnings, only include the winnings from each session rather than using losses to offset your gains. You have to include gambling winnings even if you didn't receive a Form W-2G from the casino. For example, if you gambled six times during the year, winning $100, $3,000, $4,000 and $6,000 but losing $5,000 and $2,000, your gambling winnings for the year are $13,100. This amount gets reported on line 21 of your Form 1040 tax return.

Gambling Losses

To claim your gambling losses, you have to itemize your deductions. Gambling losses are a miscellaneous deduction, but -- unlike some other miscellaneous deductions -- you can deduct the entire loss. The deduction goes on line 28 of Schedule A and you have to note that the deduction is for gambling losses. For example, if you lost $5,000 on one occasion and $7,000 on another, your total deduction is $12,000.

Gambling Loss Limitation

Where To Put Gambling Losses

You can't deduct more in gambling losses than you have in gambling winnings for the year. For example, suppose you reported $13,000 in gambling winnings on Line 21 of Form 1040. Even if you lost $100,000 that year, your gambling loss deduction is limited to $13,000. Worse, you aren't allowed to carry forward the excess, so if you had $87,000 in losses you couldn't deduct last year, you can't use that to offset the gambling income from the current year.

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About the Author

Writing Off Gambling Losses On Taxes

Based in the Kansas City area, Mike specializes in personal finance and business topics. He has been writing since 2009 and has been published by 'Quicken,' 'TurboTax,' and 'The Motley Fool.'

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Irs Rules On Gambling Winnings And Losses

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