Getting a lottery jackpot is one of the dream outcomes for many people. But it’s important to understand that winning a big lottery prize can also be a stressful time.

If you win a large lottery jackpot, there are several things you need to consider before you decide how you want to claim your prize. You need to think about your finances, how you’d like to spend it, and how to protect your money.

The first thing you need to do is determine whether or not you want to receive your winnings in a lump-sum or annuity. Choosing the right option can make a big difference in how much you’ll owe in taxes, and how easy it will be to invest in real estate, stocks or other assets.

You can find out which Iowa Lottery games offer the annuity option here.

If you choose the annuity option, you can start receiving your payout in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, with an annual interest rate of 5%. This is a better choice than receiving your lottery jackpot in a lump sum, but it isn’t always available.

Your winnings are taxed according to your income level and tax bracket. The higher your income is, the more you’ll pay in taxes.

You’ll fall into the highest tax bracket in the year you win if you take the jackpot in a lump-sum, but you can spread it out over 30 years with an annuity and avoid that higher bracket.