SSN for Casino Winnings

[wibeachbum]

If we would be lucky enough to win in the casino, do you need your social security card or can you just give them the number?

[newmexicoNita]

I wouldn't know cause I don't think the $100 plus I have won a couple of times requires any notification but my guess is "your number is just fine" and good luck. NMNita

[Max Circus]

I won $1000 on a cruise in 11/03. They needed my SSN (not the card) and I think they asked for a government id (license) and SeaPass.

[madelinerose]

Please do not carry your SS card or number with you anywhere. Identity theft is prevalent everywhere on the planet. :eek:

[kitty9]

Technically, you're supposed to report any winnings in ANY casino, be it land based or ship, on your income taxes. The ONLY cruise line that will take your SS number for a winning more than $1199 and report those winnings to the Government, is Carnival. For some reason, Carnival, and all their subsidiaries such as Cunard, HAL and the rest, is the only cruise line that will take all your information and send you a W2-G form at the end of the year. No other cruise line does this. So, if you're on any Carnival-owned ship, and you win a jackpot of more than $1199, they will ask for your SS number and all other personal infomation

 

BTW, where in SE Wisconsin? I'm in Genesee

[wibeachbum]

We're in Eagle! Small World.

[Bob & Sandy]

Technically, you're supposed to report any winnings in ANY casino, be it land based or ship, on your income taxes. The ONLY cruise line that will take your SS number for a winning more than $1199 and report those winnings to the Government, is Carnival. For some reason, Carnival, and all their subsidiaries such as Cunard, HAL and the rest, is the only cruise line that will take all your information and send you a W2-G form at the end of the year. No other cruise line does this. So, if you're on any Carnival-owned ship, and you win a jackpot of more than $1199, they will ask for your SS number and all other personal infomation

 

BTW, where in SE Wisconsin? I'm in Genesee

 

Note: This only for Americans! The Canadian gov't (and quite a few others) does NOT tax lottery or gambling winnings. If any official on a cruise ship asked for my SSN (Canadian equivalent: SIN), for the purpose of taxing MY gambling winnings - I'd laugh at them. (Not that I have to worry about this too much ... :rolleyes: ). The reason that Carnival & their component lines do this - is simply that they are being strong-armed by the US internal revenue service. The sheep meekly accept this, as that is what they are used to in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, etc. In Europe, Canada, elsewhere, they find this amusing!:D

 

As the ships are NOT registered in the US - with the exception of a few Hawaii-based ships - they don't pay US taxes anyway on most items, such as social security, unemployment insurance, income tax for the crew. This is the reason they register in Liberia, the Bahamas, Panama, etc. You Americans are getting shafted!:eek:

[Bluenose Sandy]

!:D

 

As the ships are NOT registered in the US - with the exception of a few Hawaii-based ships - they don't pay US taxes anyway on most items, such as social security, unemployment insurance, income tax for the crew. This is the reason they register in Liberia, the Bahamas, Panama, etc. You Americans are getting shafted!:eek:

 

Not sure what you mean... the Americans are getting shafted because the ship reports the winnings? Which they could otherwise "forget" to report on their tax returns? The point isn't, obviously, that the SHIP doesn't pay US taxes... it's the individual winner who pays. And hey, guys, with the low tax rates in the US compared to what Europeans and Canadians pay, don't feel too abused that you get taxed on gambling winnings!

[Bob & Sandy]

Not sure what you mean... the Americans are getting shafted because the ship reports the winnings? Which they could otherwise "forget" to report on their tax returns? The point isn't, obviously, that the SHIP doesn't pay US taxes... it's the individual winner who pays. And hey, guys, with the low tax rates in the US compared to what Europeans and Canadians pay, don't feel too abused that you get taxed on gambling winnings!

 

Yes - you DO NOT have to tell a ship official in international waters your SSN number! Why cut the US gov't in on your winnings? The US gov't can only collect tax on their own soil, (unless they have tax treaties with another gov't - and that applies to only the nation covered in the specific treaty). They certainly do not have this power in international waters ... unless you meekly hand it over to them. Should Canadians, Europeans, etc., get preferential treatment over you?? I'd say to any casino employee who tried to get me to fill out a US tax form: "I utterly refuse to do so! No thank you, very much!":rolleyes:

 

While it is true we do get taxed at a higher rate - I don't have to pay healthcare premiums, either - or submit to the whims of an HMO as to coverage. There are always trade-offs ... :)

[Bluenose Sandy]

Yes - you DO NOT have to tell a ship official in international waters your SSN number! Why cut the US gov't in on your winnings? The US gov't can only collect tax on their own soil, (unless they have tax treaties with another gov't - and that applies to only the nation covered in the specific treaty). They certainly do not have this power in international waters ... unless you meekly hand it over to them. Should Canadians, Europeans, etc., get preferential treatment over you?? I'd say to any casino employee who tried to get me to fill out a US tax form: "I utterly refuse to do so! No thank you, very much!":rolleyes:

 

Actually, the US government - and the Canadian government - can tax you on your worldwide income. You have to report it on your income tax return. The question isn't whether the ship will collect tax for the US government, it's whether the ship will report Americans' winnings to the IRS, making it harder for them to lie on their tax returns.

 

While it is true we do get taxed at a hig:)her rate - I don't have to pay healthcare premiums, either - or submit to the whims of an HMO as to coverage. There are always trade-offs ...

That's my point. Instead of getting annoyed that their government taxes gambling winnings, Americans should pay up, recognizing that they have generally low tax rates and the money to run the country has to come from somewhere.

 

BTW. I have the dubious privilege of filing BOTH US and Canadian tax returns every year, and both countries tax you on your worldwide income...the tax treaties just ensure that you don't get double-taxed on the same income.

[Bequia]

Ah yes, but hear the bitter truth -- they should be receiving a W-2G if their jackpot crosses a certain threshold. And although friends may have squeaked past the W-2G toll booth, their winnings, in the eyes of the IRS, whether snagged in the Bermuda Triangle or in a cellar-dweller casino in Moscow, are just what is meant in the IRS statement that any winnings, from whatever form of gambling worldwide, are taxable and must be reported as "Other Income," on Form 1040, of the U.S. Individual Tax Return.

So, what size jackpot should trigger traceable paperwork? According to Uncle Sam:

winnings of $1,200 or more from slot machines and bingo are taxable. As for on-the-spot withholdings, there shouldn't be any on jackpots of less than $5,000, unless you fail to provide a valid Social Security number, in which case they can withhold 29 percent of the booty won. If the spoils are more than $5,000, the casino is required to withhold 25 percent of the proceeds for Federal Income Tax.

winnings on all table game progressive side bets with payouts of 300-to-1 or more are fair game for the IRS. W-2Gs are not required for typical wagers won from table games such as blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, etc., even if you got a decent chunk of change on the layout. But regardless of the amount, casinos are still subject to the "Money Laundering Rules," and must report to the IRS, using a Cash Transaction Report (CTR), aggregate cash transactions of $10,000 or more in any one day.

winnings of $1,500 or more from keno, less the cost of the tickets bought on the winning game.

winnings of $600 or more from horse racing, dog racing or jai alai, if the winnings are at least 300 times the wager.

winnings of $600 or more from poker tournaments, (although I am informed by a few recent e-mails that this rule is not being applied consistently)

and winnings of $600 or more from state lotteries.

Finally, now that you have won a jackpot and received a W-2G, don't try to keep your windfall under wraps from Uncle Sam. The IRS also receives a copy of your W-2G from the casino, and their computers are already hungry to share your kismet well before you file your returns. ;)

[grod19]

Not to mention that the casino does not have to give you the money if you do not produce what they consider valid ID. They could request your high school ID and if you dont have it they can withhold your winnings until you do present it. as long as their policy is clearly laid out in writing which it is.

 

Not to mention......the cruise ships go in and out of the same ports all the time, Im sure they are close with the customs agents and if you give the cruise line a hard time I'm sure they could suggest that you randomly be picked for some extra security screaning or something like that once you get ready to debark........

 

If you hit for that much just pay the taxes and make your life easy