How to Fill Out the California Lottery Winner Claim Form (CSL 1242)

The California Lottery Claim Form CSL 1242 is the one-page form you use to collect any California Lottery prize of $600 or more, since retailers can only pay prizes of $599 or less.¹ You can download it from the California Lottery website, pick one up at any of the nine district offices, or ask a retailer for a copy when they validate your ticket. Before you touch the form, sign the back of your ticket. An unsigned ticket is a bearer instrument, and whoever holds it can try to claim the prize.

Sign the Ticket First

The Lottery requires specific information written on the back of the ticket before it will process a claim. The form itself warns that missing information “may delay or prevent” payment.¹ On the back of the ticket, write:

Your legal name, which must match your signature and the name you enter on the claim form
Your date of birth
Your complete mailing address, including apartment or space number, city, state, and zip code
Your email address and phone number

If you’re at the retailer, ask them to validate the ticket on their terminal. For prizes of $600 or more, the terminal prints a Claim Authorization Receipt confirming the ticket has been authorized for payment. It has no cash value and does not replace the original ticket, but the Lottery asks you to include it with your claim if you have one.²

Filling Out CSL 1242

The form is a single page. Most of what it asks for mirrors what you already wrote on the ticket: legal name, mailing address, date of birth, email, and phone number. The name you enter must match the signature on your ticket exactly. A mismatch can trigger extra review or a rejected claim.¹

The form also asks for the ticket number. For Scratchers, the 13- to 19-digit number is printed on the back of the ticket. For draw games, the 19-digit number is on the front.¹

You’ll be asked for your Social Security number or tax identification number for tax withholding and reporting.¹ Federal law permits states to require Social Security numbers in tax administration.³ If your prize is large enough to trigger federal withholding, providing the SSN at this stage prevents delays at payment.

Only one person signs CSL 1242, and the signature must match the one on the ticket. If more than one person is sharing the prize, this form alone isn’t the right paperwork. See the group claims section below.

Submitting the Claim

You have two ways to file: in person at a district office or by mail to Sacramento.

In Person

The Lottery runs nine district offices statewide, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on state holidays.⁴ Bring the completed CSL 1242, the original signed ticket, and the Claim Authorization Receipt if you have one.

Prizes of $1,000 or less are eligible for same-day payment at any district office if you arrive by 4:30 p.m. with a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID.⁵ Same-day checks aren’t guaranteed; Second Chance prizes and advance-play tickets may need extra processing at headquarters.⁴ For prizes above $1,000, the office takes your claim but the check comes later.

One address point that trips people up: you cannot file a claim at the California Lottery headquarters at 700 North 10th Street in Sacramento. That location is administrative only. The Sacramento district office is at 4106 East Commerce Way.⁴

By Mail

Staple the original winning ticket to the front of the completed CSL 1242 and mail it to:

California Lottery
730 North 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811-0336¹

The form itself warns that mailing is done “at your own risk.” The Lottery’s FAQ recommends certified mail and keeping copies of everything you send.⁶ Include the Claim Authorization Receipt if a retailer gave you one. After submission, you can check status by calling 1-800-LOTTERY.

Deadlines

Miss the deadline and you forfeit the prize. The window depends on the game:⁷

Most draw games: 180 days from the date of the winning draw
Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots: one year from the date of the winning draw
Scratchers: 180 days from the announced end-of-game date, not the date you bought or scratched the ticket

For mailed claims, the ticket must be postmarked or received by a Lottery office inside that window. Don’t wait until the last week. Postal delays and incomplete paperwork can push you past the cutoff.

How Long Payment Takes

Once the Lottery validates the ticket’s security features, it forwards the claim to the California State Controller’s Office, which issues the check for the net amount.⁸ For most claims, expect six to eight weeks from submission to payment. Larger jackpots, damaged tickets, or claims that need forensic analysis can take longer.

For jackpot prizes such as Powerball or Mega Millions, you’ll also choose between a lump-sum cash payment and an annuity paid in 30 annual installments. That choice is typically made at the time you file. Confirm the exact deadline with Lottery staff when you file so a default doesn’t decide it for you.

If You’re Sharing the Prize

Multiple owners don’t use CSL 1242 by itself. The primary form for group claims is CSL 0896, the Multiple Ownership Claim. The designated group representative fills out Parts A and B, covering ticket information and the representative’s personal details.⁹ Each additional member submits a separate CSL 0897 attached to the 0896, with their name, address, Social Security number, and share of the wager.¹⁰ Filing these forms lets each person’s share be reported separately for tax purposes so the representative doesn’t shoulder the group’s tax burden.

Tax Withholding and Offsets

Federal income tax withholding applies automatically to lottery prizes above $5,000. The standard rate is 24 percent for U.S. citizens and resident aliens. Nonresident aliens face a flat 30 percent withholding on gross gambling proceeds, though a tax treaty between the U.S. and the winner’s home country can reduce or eliminate that amount.¹¹

California does not tax California Lottery winnings at the state level. The Franchise Tax Board confirms that winnings from California Lottery games, including SuperLotto Plus, Powerball, and Mega Millions, are exempt from California state income tax.¹² The exemption applies only to California Lottery games. Casino winnings and out-of-state gambling remain subject to California income tax.

The Lottery may also deduct outstanding debts before you receive payment. Federal and state agencies can intercept winnings to cover delinquent child support, unpaid taxes, and other government debts. If you owe money in any of these categories, expect the net payout to reflect those deductions.

Your Name Becomes Public

California public disclosure laws make certain details of your win a matter of public record: your name, the name and location of the retailer that sold the winning ticket, the date of the win, and the prize amount.⁷ The Winner’s Handbook is blunt that the media will likely contact you. Unlike some other states, California does not allow lottery winners to remain anonymous. If privacy matters to you, talk to an attorney before you file so you understand your options for managing the attention.

1
California Lottery. California Lottery Claim Form CSL 1242
2
California Lottery. California Lottery Regulations
3
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 U.S. Code 405 – Evidence, Procedure, and Certification for Payments
4
California State Lottery. District Offices
5
CA.gov. Claim a Prize
6
California State Lottery. FAQs
7
California State Lottery. Winner’s Handbook
8
California Lottery. What Happens After a Big Jackpot Is Hit in California
9
California Lottery. California Lottery Multiple Ownership Claim – CSL 0896
10
California Lottery. California Lottery CSL 0897 – Multiple Ownership Claim
11
Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754
12
California Franchise Tax Board. Gambling