THE LOTTERY winner has yet to come forward to claim a $50,000 prize, and it will expire in a matter of days.
The lucky player purchased the Powerball coupon months ago for the February 21, 2024 drawing.
Missouri Lottery Officials confirmed it was purchased at a Kum & Go gas station in Joplin, about 70 miles west of Springfield.
The ticket holder won a Match 4 plus Powerball, winning the total of $50,000 and narrowly missing the jackpot.
The results of the February 21st drawing were 04, 27, 33, 41, 42 and a red Powerball of 14.
Like many states, the Missouri Lottery allows 180 days for lottery winners to redeem tickets, according to their website.
ACT FAST
This means that if the player does not respond within 26 days until August 19, 2024, they will lose their money.
Funds will instead be distributed for Missouri public education.
Given that the funds won exceed US$600, the player must also appear in person at a lottery outlet to receive the prize.
This would happen after they validated the ticket at an authorized lottery outlet, such as the Kum & Go gas station where the player purchased it.
Upon arriving at the Missouri Lottery office, the winner would also be faced with a crucial choice – how to receive the money.
Players have the option of receiving the money through an immediate one-time distribution or annuity payments over several years.
The single-payment option is often selected but remains controversial among attorneys and lottery experts.
PAY
Winners receive all the money upfront but see significant taxes taken out.
The federal government imposes a 24% tax on all lottery winnings over $5,000.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annual fee?
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Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annual fee?
Both payment methods can affect how much money you receive from your prize.
Annuities are paid slowly in increments, usually over 30 years.
Lump sums are paid all at once, but in smaller amounts since taxes are withheld all at once. This means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam immediately. Many states also tax earnings.
Annuities can give winners time to create the financial infrastructure needed to receive a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the advantage of being taxed only once.
It’s also worth considering inflation when making a choice, as payments don’t adjust to the value of a dollar. This means you will likely receive less valuable money at the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have differing opinions on the possibility of get the lump sum or take the annual fee.
Missouri also has a 4% income tax rate on cash.
This means that at least $14,000 is taken out of the prize pool, leaving the player with around $36,000.
The bigger the pot, the more taxes are charged.
For example, a New York lottery winner who recently won a $5 million jackpot in a scratch-off game instantly lost $1.7 million due to tax law.
It’s still a significant return on investment for any winner.
Some unclaimed Powerball tickets also remain unclaimed in other states.
Arizona Lottery officials are desperately searching for a $1 million winner in the July 20 Powerball drawing.
Tennessee players were also warned to double-check their tickets for a $2 million win in the same drawing.
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