I won the lottery but only got to keep $35,000 after tax – but I had a happy surprise a few months later
AN INFLUENCER won $50,000 in the lottery and was happy to take home $35,000 after taxes — until they found out.
One lucky lottery winner was grateful to be able to take home his prize when he found out about his luck in December.
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“I initially won $50,000. Lottery agency said I could take full amount or tax amount and I chose tax amount,” Sydney (@sydneykidneybean) said on TikTok.
“So I walked away with just over $35,000.”
Sydney trusted the original lottery office’s tax estimate and paid the full amount without thinking twice, they said.
“They had both state and federal taxes deducted, and I thought they deducted the exact amount that was needed,” they told viewers in the clip.
“But it turned out to be an overpayment.”
It took them three months to learn of the bug, they said.
“I got some of that back when I later settled my taxes on my tax return. I ended up getting around $4,000 back from the taxes I paid to the federal government on those gambling winnings,” they said.
Sydney ended up getting about $39,000 from their winnings and isn’t upset about the tax bills they had to pay.
“I never once got upset about the taxes.”
“It may not be fair, it may not be ethical, but I am in no position to do anything about it,” they said.
“So I decided not to get upset at all about the $11,000 I paid in taxes.”
“And I’m just focusing on the $39,000 that helped me get a home and so much stability and happiness,” they concluded.
With almost 300,000 fans Tick tockseveral people commented on Sydney’s big win.
“That’s great!! I wouldn’t be mad either considering it was free money to begin with, I’d be happy too!!” one person wrote.
“I wouldn’t be mad either!!! That’s still more than I make in a year at work! I would pay off all my debts. Congratulations!!!” replied another.