Foreign nationals keeping prizemoney?

Factual Questions
1

I went to Las Vegas a few weeks ago, just to see what all the fuss was about.

When there, I was playing three card poker at one of the table in Harrahs casino. This table allowed you to place an extra bonus bet that allowed you to make one hand using not only your three dealt cards, but the dealers three also. A big promotion was the fact that should you get a six card diamond Royal Flush (your three cards plus the dealer three) you would win one million dollars.

As these things work, in one particular hand I was one card away from making the Royal flush (dealer had Ad Kd Qd, while I had 9d 10d and some other dead card). Had that dead card been a Jd I would have won a million dollars.

Which leads me to my question. Had I won, how much money would I have in my pockets sitting here in Dublin today?

I guess there might be taxes involved, but would I even be eligible for them? In the UK you get taxes refunded if you leave the country, because you are not there to avail of the services they pay for. Would the same apply here? (why should I pay taxes in America, in any circumstance?)

If I was given the million, would I be allowed to bring it through customs? I know I would have to declare it, but would I lose a percentage of it at that point?

2

There is a “principle of double taxation” which says that a person can’t be taxed on the same concept by two different governments, and a bilateral treaty between the UK and the US which indicates how much of that income would be considered exempt and what information needs to be filed in each country.

Details on the applicable treaty here.

At the very least and at that amount, you’d have to file income tax in both countries.

3

I rather doubt that a US-UK treaty would have any relevance for someone from Dublin. :slight_smile:

The US does have an income tax treaty with Ireland, though.

4

I do appreciate the answer though. I meant to put in the OP that I have addresses in both Northern and Southern Ireland, so would have went with whichever would have given me the most money. :smiley:

I also have a brother married and resident in the US, would he be a factor if I wanted to maximise how much money I could keep?

5

I don’t think you’d stuff it in a bag and hope Customs reads the piece of paper. I think you’d deposit it in a bank and use electronic transfer.

6

Not necessarily - not all countries consider winnings to be income. I believe the US does, but Canada doesn’t, for instance. Don’t know how either the UK or Ireland deal with the issue. But yes, would be governed by the relevant tax treaty.

7

In the case of a non-resident foreign national the casino will withhold 30%. What happens after that depends on the regulations in your home country.

For US residents who provide a valid Social Security number, the withholding is 27%.

8

Betting (in betting shops) in the UK is no longer taxed at the punter level. The betting companies pay a levy on gross profit, and I suppose that is reflected in the odds offered. One difference between the UK and from what I’ve read on here about the US is about state-run lotteries. In the UK (and I think in the EU entire) if you win £100 million on the Euromillions, you get a cheque for that amount, and any taxation on that depends on what you do with that cash.