Is tipping basically mandatory?

[Zeno Lorea]

All who purchase goods, or services pay a sales tax.

In the countries of the European Union we call this Value Added Tax (VAT).

The average VAT is 24 percent that will go to the coffers of the government.

I know that Greece has had a ridiculously high VAT since the collapse, but the average VAT is far from 24% around Europe. In most countries, the maximum rate is around 20%, and that is for luxury goods. It's usually around 10% for more mundane items like shoes and books, and anything that is healthy or good for the environment (fruit, milk in bulk, etc) is around 5% in most parts of Europe.

 

[gayjohnd]

I know that Greece has had a ridiculously high VAT since the collapse, but the average VAT is far from 24% around Europe. In most countries, the maximum rate is around 20%, and that is for luxury goods. It's usually around 10% for more mundane items like shoes and books, and anything that is healthy or good for the environment (fruit, milk in bulk, etc) is around 5% in most parts of Europe.

16/28 EU countries have VAT higher than 20%.
http://www.vatlive.com/vat-rates/european-vat-rates/eu-vat-rates/

In the UK there is no VAT on books, newspapers, most food and children's clothes and shoes.

 

[LilBit]

Actually, no. Income tax is based on a percentage of an employee's income. Most people making only $4.95 per hour, based on a standard 40 hour work week, would not be earning enough to pay much of anything in taxes as they'd likely not even reach the minimum threshold. Still, they wouldn't make enough pay to cover all of the expenses for the month, not because their pay was taken for taxes but because their employer doesn't pay them enough.

Actually, yes. I used to work as a server and bartender, and my paychecks were ALWAYS $0. The employer reports each server's sales to the IRS, and if the server doesn't declare any tips, they're taxed on 8% of their sales on top of their base pay.

 

[evanrick]

Tipping is absolutely not mandatory, we do not tip the police for finding our lost dog or tip the mailman for stuffing the mailbox full of advertisements. so no tipping is absolutely not mandatory. another thing you can blame republicans for, they will tax your tips and then use tips as an excuse to cut your wages. some states are completely sold out to businesses on this.

and you do not have to tip a percentage either, weather its a 5 dollar burger or a 50 dollar one, it took the same amount of effort to drag it to your table.

if you feel you need to tip, leave something but dont feel guilty if you dont follow some unwritten rules. i sure as fuck dont.

 

[peeonme]

Tipping is absolutely not mandatory, we do not tip the police for finding our lost dog or tip the mailman for stuffing the mailbox full of advertisements. so no tipping is absolutely not mandatory. another thing you can blame republicans for, they will tax your tips and then use tips as an excuse to cut your wages. some states are completely sold out to businesses on this.

and you do not have to tip a percentage either, weather its a 5 dollar burger or a 50 dollar one, it took the same amount of effort to drag it to your table.

if you feel you need to tip, leave something but dont feel guilty if you dont follow some unwritten rules. i sure as fuck dont.

You are comparing apples and oranges. Some workers make less than the federal minimum wages because it's understood that a portion of their pay is based upon gratuities.
Servers and bartenders are the first to come to my mind. As others have pointed out federal income tax law assumes that they make these tips and taxes them accordingly.

If you tip a cop, that's known commonly as a bribe and it is illegal.

 

[zoltanspawn]

if you feel you need to tip, leave something but dont feel guilty if you dont follow some unwritten rules. i sure as fuck dont.

In our experience, the rate of people who ignore the custom is far, far less than 1%.

There is no proportion between the brood of the socially inhibited citizens of the internet and real life.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

internet a 2 commsments
-ans 1_
yea - now a wong pomppie sentance ofs a supa phd dooins
! iss not wot - how many weed tis post? !
zeeeeeeeeeeero unless say a females a clinton a alien fa shoes
%oooh millions folkees gon weed now%
ans constinues
!yea internet 2 ans 1 ans half no news keeps a say 1st worldees coomments wet univase nos a how far far far ans extra size far away form a realalitee or sooooo up teys owns a snot etc so on !
ans stuff

tinku

extra coomeints a fta tip
_yea_

 

[Kahaih]

Actually, yes. I used to work as a server and bartender, and my paychecks were ALWAYS $0. The employer reports each server's sales to the IRS, and if the server doesn't declare any tips, they're taxed on 8% of their sales on top of their base pay.

So, why isn't that the 'customary' percentage tipped, then?

And, if the other 12% of the '20% customary tip' collected goes unreported, isn't that tax evasion – criminal?

 

[Kahaih]

In our experience, the rate of people who ignore the custom is far, far less than 1%.

There is no proportion between the brood of the socially inhibited citizens of the internet and real life.

Well, thank goodness you are just another Internet fake, then.

Otherwise people might see you as a real person who has to be paid to be civil.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

mak wich flookessl tip 100%
-yea-
supa wich 10000%
-yea-
ans tip all supaeducarturd 1st worldee morons of planet
-yeayea-
ooh supa supa wich nose snot ya nose wot ya is fa eons
-yeayeayea-
now songamk a folkeess tink stoopid
!wot a lovelyee day!

tinku

sumting elses but it alweedy paste up sky a eons

 

[Willie Boy]

Actually, yes. I used to work as a server and bartender, and my paychecks were ALWAYS $0. The employer reports each server's sales to the IRS, and if the server doesn't declare any tips, they're taxed on 8% of their sales on top of their base pay.

What other deductions did you have? The whole tax withholding setup takes into account the standard exemptions, unless we choose to have more withheld from our paychecks so as to get a juicy refund at the end of the year. Or as I mentioned above, you may have had other deductions, like for back taxes that weren't paid, or alimony/child support current/mot paid or health care premiums, etc.

 

[Alistair]

It is "mandatory" in a unwritten rule sort of way.

If the service is fine I don't see a reason to not tip, even if the service isn't good just tip lower. Generally I tip a dollar a drink, it seems to be okay with most places and I see most people tip that way. If it was an honest mistake, don't worry about it.

I generally haven't had bad experiences because I tip decently at least. Though I remember a bartender getting upset with my younger brother for not tipping as he was getting drinks, when he was just planning to do a full tip when he was done. I thought she was rude.

This...an extra dollar per round of drinks. If the service was exceptional and the bartender friendly (or in a gay bar flirty and cute) I'll give them an extra $5 or $10 at the end of the night.

 

[Cormac135]

I usually tip leave a £1 if i'm in a taxi, getting my hair cut or in a cafe.

Wouldn't even enter my mind to tip bar staff for handing over my drink, especially in gay clubs that already have a mark up.

 

[evanrick]

You are comparing apples and oranges. Some workers make less than the federal minimum wages because it's understood that a portion of their pay is based upon gratuities.
Servers and bartenders are the first to come to my mind. As others have pointed out federal income tax law assumes that they make these tips and taxes them accordingly.

If you tip a cop, that's known commonly as a bribe and it is illegal.

Its not apples and oranges, police get benefits while people who get tipped do not. i am trying to point out how unfair it is, simply because this tipping culture has actually hurt people who rely on tips to get by that its actually bad for them.

 

[evanrick]

Actually, yes. I used to work as a server and bartender, and my paychecks were ALWAYS $0. The employer reports each server's sales to the IRS, and if the server doesn't declare any tips, they're taxed on 8% of their sales on top of their base pay.

exactly my point, how businesses use tipping to deny benefits to tipped employees and at least one person here agress its ok to hire people to do slave labor.

 

[zoltanspawn]

And, if the other 12% of the '20% customary tip' collected goes unreported, isn't that tax evasion – criminal?

The IRS requires that all tip income be reported. Not reporting it is tax evasion.

Well, thank goodness you are just another Internet fake, then.

Otherwise people might see you as a real person who has to be paid to be civil.

We are paid, in part, for our good manners. Yes, it's an occupation that charges for our professional courtesies. The "hospitality industry" some people call it. Like cars or other products, there are a variety (of courtesies) available for purchase, from the very casual to the elaborately servile.

Civility is on the cheaper end of things.

 

[Willie Boy]

We are paid, in part, for our good manners. Yes, it's an occupation that charges for our professional courtesies. The "hospitality industry" some people call it. Like cars or other products, there are a variety (of courtesies) available for purchase, from the very casual to the elaborately servile.

Civility is on the cheaper end of things.

And the difference is paid on the product. If the customer wants exceptional courtesy he goes to the higher priced restaurant to get his burger. If he wants civil he grabs the cheap fast food burger. If one has to pay $25 for a simple burger, the same as they can get elsewhere for under $10, what is that extra $15 for if not the better atmosphere (including service). The employer has already charged for the employee's service, he just keeps it for himself and expects the customer to pay another sum to make up for what he's kept.

 

[zoltanspawn]

The employer has already charged for the employee's service, he just keeps it for himself and expects the customer to pay another sum to make up for what he's kept.

Your confusion is perennial.

 

[GhostHustler]

If you don't tip well, I won't suck the dick. Cheap fucks are a huge turn off.

 

[Willie Boy]

Your confusion is perennial.

It is not confusion but fact. You are the one who is confused. Why should the hospitality industry be any different that any other industry? Why should it be expected that customers pay extra for basic service when the employer has already collected payment for service and simply refuses to pay appropriate wages? Every other industry if an employer tried such he would have trouble from the comunity as well as the government. But in the hospitality industry it is expected....... And I'm the one who is confused?