The jackpot for the MEGA Millions draw on Tue Mar 3, 2026, is projected to be $473 Million, with an option for a cash payout of $221.8 Million. Should you be the lucky winner of the MEGA Millions jackpot, anticipate the IRS to initially withhold 24% of your winnings for taxes, and be prepared that you might need to pay up to an additional 13% in federal taxes at tax time. For North Carolina residents, the state will deduct 4.75% from your lottery earnings.
| North Carolina MEGA Millions Jackpot/Cash Option for Tue Mar 3, 2026 |
|---|
| Draw Date | Tue Mar 3, 2026 | | Projected Jackpot | $473,000,000 | | Cash Value | $221,800,000 |
| Lumpsum Option Taxes and Payment |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| Yr |
Gross Payment |
Fed/State Taxes |
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 |
|
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