Horse racing winnings tax in Connecticut
Connecticut taxes horse racing winnings as ordinary income at graduated rates from 2% to 6.99%.
Updated · 2026 tax rules · How we calculate
You keep
$6,500
Cash at payout
$6,080
Total tax
$1,500
Over-withheld
$420
- Form W-2G
- Yes
- Federal withholding at payout
- $1,920
- Federal tax on the winnings
- $1,110
- State tax
- $390
- Over-withheld
- $420
- You keep
- $6,500
$8,000 is at or above the $2,000 reporting threshold, so the payer files a W-2G with the IRS and gives you a copy.
The payer holds back 24% of winnings over $5,000 and sends it to the IRS. It's a prepayment, not the final tax.
Winnings are ordinary income stacked on your other $60,000. Your top dollar lands in the 22% bracket.
Connecticut taxes gambling winnings as ordinary income.
More was withheld than these winnings add to your tax. The difference reduces what you owe on the rest of your return, or comes back as a refund.
$8,000 minus $1,500 in federal and state tax: an effective rate of 18.8%.
An estimate for 2026, not tax advice. It treats this win as your only gambling income for the year and leaves out local income taxes. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
The rules
- Connecticut tax
- Connecticut taxes horse racing winnings as ordinary income at graduated rates from 2% to 6.99%.[1]
- Federal tax form
- Horse racing (pari-mutuel) winnings are reported on a W-2G when they are $2,000 or more (after subtracting the wager) and at least 300 times the wager. The threshold was $600 before 2026.[2]
- Federal withholding
- 24% is withheld from pari-mutuel winnings of more than $5,000, but only when the win is also at least 300 times the wager.[2]
- Connecticut withholding
- No Connecticut withholding requirement for horse racing winnings. Tax is due when you file.[5]Unverified
- Gambling losses
- No. Connecticut allows no deduction for gambling losses, even when you deduct them federally.[6]
- Visitors
- Connecticut does not tax nonresidents on horse racing winnings. Visitors owe tax to their home state instead.[7]
What you keep at different amounts
For a single filer with $60,000 of other income and no gambling losses, living and winning in Connecticut.
| Won | W-2G | Withheld | Federal tax | State tax | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | No | $0 | $180 | $68 | $1,253 |
| $2,000 | Yes | $0 | $240 | $90 | $1,670 |
| $8,000 | Yes | $1,920 | $1,110 | $390 | $6,500 |
| $10,000 | Yes | $2,400 | $1,550 | $500 | $7,950 |
| $100,000 | Yes | $24,000 | $22,114 | $5,675 | $72,211 |
Assumes a $2 bet amount, so the 300x test is met at every amount shown.
Questions
- How much is Connecticut tax on horse racing winnings?
- Connecticut taxes horse racing winnings as ordinary income at graduated rates from 2% to 6.99%.[1]
- Does Connecticut withhold tax from horse racing winnings?
- Connecticut has no withholding requirement for horse racing winnings. Tax is due when you file.[5]Unverified
- Do visitors pay Connecticut tax on horse racing winnings?
- Connecticut does not tax nonresidents on horse racing winnings. Visitors owe tax to their home state instead.[7]
More for Connecticut
All of Connecticut's gambling tax rules · Horse racing in every state
Sources
- [1] Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 · checked September 22, 2026
- [2] IRS, Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 (01/2026) · checked September 22, 2026
- [3] Federal Register, REG-113229-25 proposed rule (Apr. 17, 2026) · checked September 22, 2026
- [4] 26 U.S. Code § 3402 (withholding) · checked September 22, 2026
- [5] CT DRS IP 2015(23), Income Tax Treatment of State Lottery Winnings · checked September 22, 2026
- [6] CT DRS IP 2011(27), Income Tax Treatment of Gambling Winnings Other Than State Lottery Winnings · checked September 22, 2026
- [7] CT DRS - Nonresident and Part-Year Resident Tax Information · checked September 22, 2026