Claiming back tax withheld in the U.S. on poker winnings

smurph · 11-09-2006 12:04PM #1

Hi,
Could anyone point me in the right direction. I came 2nd in a ceasers palace tournament and won $2,600. They held back 30% = $785 because I did not have an ITAN number. Said i could claim it back when i came back home.

Has anyone gone through this process. Do i apply for an ITAN Number and then send form off. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

RoundTower · 11-09-2006 01:48PM

sounds like you were in the right place because Caesar's Palace handle ITIN numbers for all the Harrah's properties in Las Vegas (Flamingo, Rio, Ballys, etc). Ask at the poker desk about applying for an ITIN. They should be able to give you the form and send it away for you, you won't get the number for a couple of days but they will usually pay you straight away and mark the paperwork "number applied for."

If the poker desk won't help you should find the slots manager, his office is opposite the main cashier but the best way to contact him is by explaining at the cage that you need him. If the cashiers don't know what it is tell them it is for non-US residents claiming gambling winnings, instead of a SSN. You don't need to explain you are playing poker, just that you need an ITIN, and he should sort you out.

In either case ask for a photocopy of the form once it is filled out, then you can present it if you need it at any Harrah's casino -- they will ring Caesar's and ask for confirmation that you applied.

Well done on the tournament score, hope you need that form again.

5starpool · 11-09-2006 02:09PM

I know next to nothing about this, but since you are back from vegas now I believe you have to apply for a refund from the IRS? Doesn't sound like fun, and not wanting to sound all hindsighty you should really have known about this issue before you went as there have been loads of threads, esp in the runup to the wsop about this tax issue.

Did Ceasar's give you any information at all about how to claim this back?

smurph · 11-09-2006 02:46PM

Yeah I had read up on it and got an application form for an ITAN Number, we went over with 2 filled out forms. Martin had the application form with him when he got placed in a tournament, so they did not withold any tax.

However, murphys law on the day before we were leaving, Martin ripped up my form, and I went and played the tournament in Ceasers, and got in the money. Cause it was a Sat Night/Sunday morning the Office wasn't open and I no proof that I had an appliation form.

RoundTower · 11-09-2006 02:48PM

if you are back now it will be a bit more of a problem. You can probably find the correct form online and details of where to send it, but I expect as Dominic says you will have to apply to the IRS and not to Caesar's. I recommend you ring Caesar's anyway and try to find out from the slots department.

RoundTower · 11-09-2006 02:51PM

they told me I would get my number sent to me in the post to my Irish address, I don't think this is true though, eventually I got it over the phone.

5starpool · 11-09-2006 02:54PM

smurph wrote:

However, murphys law on the day before we were leaving, Martin ripped up my form

Pourquoi?

Is he jealous of you?

Also, didn't know that law was named after you, impressive.

smurph · 11-09-2006 03:13PM

5starpool wrote:

Pourquoi?

Is he jealous of you? Also, didn't know that law was named after you, impressive.

Well don't you know its always the mans fault:p

I mean I had a whole week to go to the little desk with the form, but oh no I was too busy playing the cash games, and drinking and cash games, and oh more drinking. Paperwork, blah who needs it

Lazare · 12-09-2006 10:29PM

Hi Collette, well done.

I'm going over in November for a week, staying in Monte Carlo, can you reccommend any good tournaments. Particularly early start tournaments in the $100 - $300 range. I'll be with a few non poker buddies, so want to keep most evenings free.
Also, does the Bellagio run sats for the 1K event?

Claiming back tax withheld in the U.S. on poker winnings

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