The Dilemma of 1099-Misc for Gambling Wins - How to offset with gambling losses

[LMurray1]

The is a perennial problem that is never properly addressed:

A gambler receives a 1099-Misc for a big win, not a W-2G.  The gambler itemizes his deductions, and he has documented losses exceeding the 1099-Misc income.

The question is:

  Does he input all of the 1099-Misc information as common income into TurboTax?  If so, since the 1099-Misc is not a W-2G, there is no place in TurboTax to offset this 1099 income with gambling losses unless he reports the same amount again in the less common income section as a gambling win.  In that case, the income in now double reported and TurboTax will only allow the gambler to deduct one of the two amounts. If the gambler ignores inputting the 1099 information directly into TurboTax and instead simply reports the income in the less common income section without the specific 1099 details, he risks alerting the IRS that he has not reported the 1099-misc form.

 Some suggest filing the 1099 Misc using negative numbers for the win, and then reporting both the win and losses in the less common income section.  This works, but may also set off an IRS bell.

  Any final thoughts?

[DaveF1006]

No. This can be reported as gambling income in that section of the return, with. Here is how to report. 

1. log into your return.
2. Go to federal
3. Wages and Income
4. Less common Income
5. Gambling Winnings Once you are in gambling, winnings, indicate that you do not have a W2G. 
6. In a follow-up screen that says Did you receive any other gambling or lottery winnings not reported on a W-2G? Say yes.
7. Here you will report the amount of your gambling winnings.
8. In the next screen, you can report the gambling losses. Don't enter more than the amount of your winnings.

Presently, there is not a procedure for filing a 1099 MISC in Turbo Tax that would indicate it is from gambling because there is no way to offset the losses. The only other way to report it is the manner I described above.

[LMurray1]

David,

  Thanks for your prompt reply.

  As you know, and as I indicated in my post, your solution (and apparently the only one available) creates one problem - the gambler does not directly input the 1099-Misc information into Turbotax, and thus potentially flags the IRS that he has not reported all of his income.   Even though the gambler accounted for this income in the less common income section where he can offset the income with his losses, the IRS has now been alerted and will probably come looking for him.  Never a pleasant event.

  Interestingly, Microsoft Copilot, when presented with this problem, suggests that the gambler also report the 1099-Misc directly (along with the solution you documented) but use negative values for the income in the 1099-Misc form.  This does prevent double reporting of the income and allows the gambler to offset his winnings with his losses.  However, negative income may also be an IRS flag.

  No ideal solution to this problem that plagues millions of gamblers.

[DianeW777]

There is a solution even if the income is reported on a Form 1099-MISC. The instruction for reporting these types of transactions is somewhat confusing to many vendors. It doesn't change the tax law for reporting gambling winnings.

In reference to your statement about gambling losses - 'This does prevent double reporting of the income and allows the gambler to offset his winnings with his losses'.  This is not correct.

Please note you can only take gambling losses to the extent of gambling income and only if you can itemize deductions. If you do not itemize your deductions you cannot reduce the gambling income any other way.

• Can You Claim Gambling Losses on Your Taxes?

@LMurray1 

[LMurray1]

Diane,

  Thanks for your reply.

  Since TurboTax does not allow identification of a 1099-Misc entry as a gambling win (unlike a W-2G), there is no way to directly offset this reported income with gambling losses (assuming the taxpayer itemizes his deductions).  If you know a trick, please share, otherwise we are simply repeating the same steps previously discussed and the 1099-Misc now becomes double reported income along with reporting the win in less common income.