Little Rhody, Rhode Island, changed its tax structure for 2012. Rhode Island eliminated itemized deductions (but did increase the standard deduction). Thus, an amateur gambler with $50,000 of gambling winnings and $30,000 of gambling losses will owe tax on his wins and will not get the benefit of his gambling losses.
Here is the list of bad states for gamblers with the reasons why:
Connecticut [1]
Hawaii [2]
Illinois [1]
Indiana [1]
Kansas [8]
Massachusetts [1]
Michigan [1]
Minnesota [3]
Mississippi [4]
New York [5]
Ohio [1] [6]
Rhode Island [1]
Washington [7]
West Virginia [1]
Wisconsin [1]
NOTES:
1. CT, IL, IN, MA, MI, OH, RI, WV, and WI do not allow gambling losses as an itemized deduction. These states’ income taxes are written so that taxpayers pay based (generally) on their federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). AGI includes gambling winnings but does not include gambling losses. Thus, a taxpayer who has (say) $100,000 of gambling winnings and $100,000 of gambling losses will owe state income tax on the phantom gambling winnings. (Michigan does exempt the first $300 of gambling winnings from state income tax.)
2. Hawaii has an excise tax (the General Excise and Use Tax) that’s thought of as a sales tax. It is, but it is also a tax on various professions. A professional gambler is subject to this 4% tax (an amateur gambler is not).
3. Minnesota’s state Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) negatively impacts amateur gamblers. Because of the design of the Minnesota AMT, amateur gamblers with significant losses effectively cannot deduct those losses.
4. Mississippi only allows Mississippi gambling losses as an itemized deduction.
5. New York has a limitation on itemized deductions. If your AGI is over $500,000, you lose 50% of your itemized deductions (including gambling losses). You begin to lose itemized deductions at an AGI of $100,000.
6. Ohio currently does not allow gambling losses as an itemized deduction. Because of the rescinding of the law allowing gambling losses as a deduction, Ohioans cannot deduct gambling losses on their state, city, or school district returns.
7. Washington state has no state income tax. However, the state does have a Business & Occupations Tax (B&O Tax). The B&O Tax has not been applied toward professional gamblers, but my reading of the law says that it could be at any time.
8. Beginning in 2014 (2014 tax returns filed in 2015), Kansas will not allow gambling losses as an itemized deduction. See #1 above as to how this will impact amateur gamblers in the Sunflower State.
My thanks to Paul Dion, CPA, for pointing this out. My one Rhode Island client moved elsewhere before 2012 so I haven’t prepared a Rhode Island return this year.