Happened again..server added an extra tip..

[disneychrista]

TThe server in the less expensive restaurant works just as hard, so I tip more since the total bill is less.

Glad to know I am not the only one who feels this way. I have never understood the straight % of the meal cost for tipping.

 

[tzolkin]

. The server in the less expensive restaurant works just as hard, so I tip more since the total bill is less.

This is my one issue with tipping. It has never really made sense to me why one server is entitled to a $30 tip and another only gets $6 for doing the same job.

 

[mom2my3kids]

This is my one issue with tipping. It has never really made sense to me why one server is entitled to a $30 tip and another only gets $6 for doing the same job.

The government makes the server claim by the percent of sales, You are supposed to claim everything but in case you dont they make your employer claim 12 percent of your sales per day..So if I sold 400.00 worth of food, in case I dont claim enough my employer has to claim 48.00 dollars to the IRS.. So if you work at a fancy place and have sales that are a lot higher you are getting taxed on that.. Hope this helps

 

[disneychrista]

The government makes the server claim by the percent of sales, You are supposed to claim everything but in case you dont they make your employer claim 12 percent of your sales per day..So if I sold 400.00 worth of food, in case I dont claim enough my employer has to claim 48.00 dollars to the IRS.. So if you work at a fancy place and have sales that are a lot higher you are getting taxed on that.. Hope this helps

This is not quite true.

The government assumes you will get at least 8% of your sales as tips. However, if you keep detailed records of your tips and can PROVE (with said records) that you did not get at least 8% of your sales in tips then you can use this amount instead of the 8% allocated tips.

 

[ssawka]

Glad to know I am not the only one who feels this way. I have never understood the straight % of the meal cost for tipping.

This is my one issue with tipping. It has never really made sense to me why one server is entitled to a $30 tip and another only gets $6 for doing the same job.

Unfortunately there is no better way to base a tip than on a percentage of the bill, but I never thought it made any sense. Does it really take more effort to serve me a filet mignon than a chicken breast?

I also never thought it made sense to pay laborers by the hour. It encourages them to work slower.

 

[disneychrista]

Unfortunately there is no better way to base a tip than on a percentage of the bill

How many course/plates, # of guests, etc.

It is very common to pay a bartender based on the number of drinks, $1 per beer/glass of wine.

 

[mom2my3kids]

This is not quite true.

The government assumes you will get at least 8% of your sales as tips. However, if you keep detailed records of your tips and can PROVE (with said records) that you did not get at least 8% of your sales in tips then you can use this amount instead of the 8% allocated tips.

It is true where I work and many places, its 12 percent..They told us the IRS went up to 10 but its standard for my company to claim 12..They say if you cant get 12 percent of your sales I guess you are not a good server..I know many chain places are like this..

 

[mom2my3kids]

This is not quite true.

The government assumes you will get at least 8% of your sales as tips. However, if you keep detailed records of your tips and can PROVE (with said records) that you did not get at least 8% of your sales in tips then you can use this amount instead of the 8% allocated tips.

Also ours is all computerized, and if the manager has to swipe you because your tips fall under the twelve percent its write up..yeah makes sense huh...

 

[HM]

Glad to know I am not the only one who feels this way. I have never understood the straight % of the meal cost for tipping.

It's because the server is taxed by the price of the meals that they serve.

 

[disneychrista]

It is true where I work and many places, its 12 percent..They told us the IRS went up to 10 but its standard for my company to claim 12..They say if you cant get 12 percent of your sales I guess you are not a good server..I know many chain places are like this..

What your place of employment does, does not (necessarily) mean that the IRS/government requires it. And unless they have a separate agreement with the IRS, I am not sure requiring a different amount is even legal.

The government has said 8% for as long as I can remember and I see nothing on the IRS website that says they have changed it to 10%. And like I said, if you make less than 8% then the IRS does not require that you pay tax on money that you did not get. Keep detailed records so you an prove what you actual get.

 

[mom2my3kids]

What your place of employment does, does not (necessarily) mean that the IRS/government requires it. And unless they have a separate agreement with the IRS, I am not sure requiring a different amount is even legal.

The government has said 8% for as long as I can remember and I see nothing on the IRS website that says they have changed it to 10%. And like I said, if you make less than 8% then the IRS does not require that you pay tax on money that you did not get. Keep detailed records so you an prove what you actual get.

I guess I never questioned them on it, because I have never had to deal with it..Always made over that amount, been close before... I guess you could fight the IRS if you made under 8 % but I wouldnt want that fight..

 

[DawnM]

I have gone to cash only at restaurants as much as I am able. It just makes for fewer issues.

Server doesn't learn your name or have the chance to steal any info from you, or add additional tips.

I just got back from a long vacation in Seattle and either paid in cash or gave cash to whoever was paying the bill and let them put it on their card.

Dawn

 

[ssawka]

I have gone to cash only at restaurants as much as I am able. It just makes for fewer issues.

Server doesn't learn your name or have the chance to steal any info from you, or add additional tips.

I just got back from a long vacation in Seattle and either paid in cash or gave cash to whoever was paying the bill and let them put it on their card.

Dawn

No, then you just have to worry about losing the money or getting pick-pocketed. No thanks, I'll take the safety of the credit card and just watch the bill when it comes in.

 

[disneychrista]

I guess you could fight the IRS if you made under 8 % but I wouldnt want that fight..

As long as you keep detailed records of your tips you are fine. Honestly, if you are making less than 8% you are probably in the wrong line of work.

 

[tvguy]

No, then you just have to worry about losing the money or getting pick-pocketed. No thanks, I'll take the safety of the credit card and just watch the bill when it comes in.

Your credit card would be gone too if you got pick-pocketed.

 

[disneychrista]

Your credit card would be gone too if you got pick-pocketed.

But a credit card can be cancelled and in general you are not responsible for fraudulent charges. If your cash is stolen you are simply out the cash.

 

[ssawka]

Your credit card would be gone too if you got pick-pocketed.

Yes, but you would not be responsible for the charges that incur if they use your card. With cash, it's gone!

 

[mom2my3kids]

As long as you keep detailed records of your tips you are fine. Honestly, if you are making less than 8% you are probably in the wrong line of work.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, but you would not be responsible for the charges that incur if they use your card. With cash, it's gone!

Ok the, some cash and travelers checks.

 

[pixiewings71]

This Californian tends to tip about 20% for good service in a less expensive restaurant, and closer to 15% in an expensive restaurant. The server in the less expensive restaurant works just as hard, so I tip more since the total bill is less.

IME servers in more expensive restaurants work harder than those in less expensive restaurants. I can guarantee you the server at Rutherford Grill works harder than the server at Buffalo Wild Wings. LOL I tip 10-20% based on the service I receive, the service at BWW is always sub-par so I tip less (one visit we got our appetizer after we got our wings and I had to ask about it, DBF never got a drink at all and once she took our order our server left and NEVER came back to our table, I had to ask a different server for help multiple times), the service at RG is always spot on so I tip higher. I tip based on service, not on total, if the above I described was the opposite I would tip the BWW server better than the RG server but I've never had that actually happen. LOL