North Carolina Lottery

NCLottery MEGA Millions Jackpot Analysis

The MEGA Millions jackpot for the draw on Tue Mar 3, 2026 is estimated to be $473 Million, with a cash option of 221.8 Million. If you win the MEGA Millions jackpot, the IRS will withhold 24% of your prize money upfront, and you may owe up to an additional 13% in federal taxes when the tax is due. Additionally, if you are a resident of North Carolina, your state will take 4.75% of your lottery winnings.

Please note that the calculation of the MEGA Millions jackpot prizes and taxes below is based on FEDERAL INCOME TAX BRACKETS FOR 2023.

North Carolina MEGA Millions Jackpot/Cash Option for Tue Mar 3, 2026

Draw Date	Jackpot	Cash Option
Tue Mar 3, 2026	$473,000,000	$221,800,000

Lumpsum Option Taxes and Payment

Category	Amount
Cash Gross Payment	$221,800,000
Federal Tax(24%)	$53,232,000
Additional Federal Tax	$28,794,330
State Tax(4.75%)	$10,535,500
Net Lumpsum Payment	$129,238,170

Annuity Payment in 30 Installations

Year	Gross Payment	Fed/State Tax	Net Payment
1	$7,119,123	-$2,594,406 -$338,158	$4,186,559
2	$7,475,292	-$2,726,188 -$355,076	$4,394,028
3	$7,848,962	-$2,864,446 -$372,826	$4,611,690
4	$8,241,552	-$3,009,705 -$391,474	$4,840,373
5	$8,653,535	-$3,162,138 -$411,043	$5,080,354
6	$9,086,330	-$3,322,272 -$431,601	$5,332,457
7	$9,540,410	-$3,490,282 -$453,169	$5,596,959
8	$10,017,667	-$3,666,867 -$475,839	$5,874,961
9	$10,518,574	-$3,852,203 -$499,632	$6,166,739
10	$11,044,550	-$4,046,814 -$524,616	$6,473,120
11	$11,596,541	-$4,251,051 -$550,836	$6,794,654
12	$12,176,439	-$4,465,613 -$578,381	$7,132,445
13	$12,785,190	-$4,690,851 -$607,297	$7,487,042
14	$13,424,686	-$4,927,464 -$637,673	$7,859,549
15	$14,095,873	-$5,175,803 -$669,554	$8,250,516
16	$14,800,643	-$5,436,568 -$703,031	$8,661,044
17	$15,540,415	-$5,710,284 -$738,170	$9,091,961
18	$16,317,554	-$5,997,825 -$775,084	$9,544,645
19	$17,133,479	-$6,299,718 -$813,840	$10,019,921
20	$17,990,082	-$6,616,661 -$854,529	$10,518,892
21	$18,889,728	-$6,949,530 -$897,262	$11,042,936
22	$19,834,309	-$7,299,025 -$942,130	$11,593,154
23	$20,825,717	-$7,665,846 -$989,222	$12,170,649
24	$21,867,263	-$8,051,218 -$1,038,695	$12,777,350
25	$22,960,366	-$8,455,666 -$1,090,617	$13,414,083
26	$24,108,810	-$8,880,590 -$1,145,168	$14,083,052
27	$25,314,014	-$9,326,516 -$1,202,416	$14,785,082
28	$26,579,762	-$9,794,842 -$1,262,539	$15,522,381
29	$27,908,892	-$10,286,620 -$1,325,672	$16,296,600
30	$29,304,242	-$10,802,900 -$1,391,951	$17,109,391