How Much Tax Do You Pay on the Spanish Christmas Lottery 2026? Examples by Prize
Quick answer: In the Spanish Christmas Lottery 2026, prizes are tax-free up to €40,000 per tenth; anything above is taxed at 20%, withheld by the bank when you claim. So El Gordo (€400,000) leaves €328,000 net, the second prize (€125,000) €108,000 and the third (€50,000) €48,000. The fourth, fifth and pedrea prizes pay no tax.
By the Serviloto team, Lottery Office no. 40 in Málaga (Spain).
How Christmas Lottery prizes are taxed
Prizes in the Christmas Lottery 2026 carry a special tax: the first €40,000 of each tenth is tax-free and the rest is taxed at 20%. You do not have to do anything: the paying bank applies the withholding automatically, and the prize is not added to your income tax return.
How much you receive from each prize
This table shows what you take home from each prize per €20 tenth:
| Prize | Gross per tenth | Tax (20% above €40,000) | Net per tenth |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Gordo | €400,000 | €72,000 | €328,000 |
| 2nd prize | €125,000 | €17,000 | €108,000 |
| 3rd prize | €50,000 | €2,000 | €48,000 |
| 4th prize | €20,000 | €0 | €20,000 |
| 5th prize | €6,000 | €0 | €6,000 |
| Pedrea | €100 | €0 | €100 |
| Refund | €20 | €0 | €20 |
What if the tenth is shared?
The €40,000 exemption applies per tenth, not per person, and is divided among co-owners in proportion to their share. So sharing a tenth does not reduce the total tax: if four people share a tenth winning El Gordo, each receives €100,000, has €10,000 tax-free and pays €18,000, taking home €82,000.
And with shares (participaciones)?
If you play with a share (for example €5 of a €20 tenth), you receive the proportional part of the prize and of the exemption. With El Gordo, a €5 share receives €100,000 gross and €82,000 net.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do you pay if you win the Christmas El Gordo?
€72,000 per tenth: 20% of the €360,000 above the €40,000 exemption. You receive €328,000 net.
Is the Christmas fourth prize taxed?
No. The fourth prize is €20,000 per tenth, below the €40,000 exemption.
Do you have to declare the Christmas Lottery on your income tax return?
No, if the bank has already withheld the 20%. The special tax is settled when you claim.
Does sharing a tenth reduce the tax?
No. The exemption is per tenth and is split among co-owners, so the total tax is the same.
How much does a €5 share receive if it wins El Gordo?
€100,000 gross and €82,000 net, because it gets a quarter of the prize and of the exemption.
Play responsibly
The lottery is a game of chance. Always play within your budget and only if you are 18 or over. Information and support are available at jugarbien.es.
