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Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

theguardian.com

191–200 of 228 posts

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#191

The tipping culture in the US has got totally out of control over last 3-4 years. I'm more than fine tipping low waged people who provide an actual service like wait staff and barbers, but the ubiquitous payment terminals taking over for credit card payment, where the cashier/counter staff expect a 10/15/20% or more tip (some now have 20% as the minimum, unless you go "custom") for doing nothing, piss me off! What ne…

I stopped dining out because of tips. If I get food I pay in cash because I am tired of someone flipping the Clover screen over or holding the card reader in front of me, wanting a 30% tip for doing their basic job. It's gone beyond what is a livable wage and solidly into greed, and manipulation.

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#192
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's Visa's normal service. Considering that exceptional is silly.

So should I not be tipping for normal service? Its pretty confusing because in my country tipping seems to be the expected default, not something reserved to exceptional circumstances.

Do you similarly tip your phone company, or electricity provider?

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#193

The tipping culture in the US has got totally out of control over last 3-4 years. I'm more than fine tipping low waged people who provide an actual service like wait staff and barbers, but the ubiquitous payment terminals taking over for credit card payment, where the cashier/counter staff expect a 10/15/20% or more tip (some now have 20% as the minimum, unless you go "custom") for doing nothing, piss me off! What ne…

People got generous during COVID and businesses are trying to take advantage of that and extend it to beyond COVID. During COVID I would tip my normal sitdown restaurant amount for takeout. But not anymore.

> People got generous during COVID

True, but the problem really seemed to start when the swivel-to-face-customer POS terminals from Square/etc started to be used - the ones that display these 15/20/25% tip prompts.

I'm trying to think if I've ever seen one of these terminals that doesn't prompt for a tip?!

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#194

The tipping culture in the US has got totally out of control over last 3-4 years. I'm more than fine tipping low waged people who provide an actual service like wait staff and barbers, but the ubiquitous payment terminals taking over for credit card payment, where the cashier/counter staff expect a 10/15/20% or more tip (some now have 20% as the minimum, unless you go "custom") for doing nothing, piss me off! What ne…

why would you tip a barber? because they cut your hair good? what was the base payment for then?

Yup he cuts my hair good. Always tip your barber. Don't want a shitty haircut next time. Dunno what his base pay is. He does have to rent his chair from the shop. How much does that cost?

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#195
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's to prevent corporations and the rich from taking advantage of this? ie, my job is $10k + rest in "tips"?

Can you deduct tips paid as a business expense?

IANYTA but yes, it's a deductible expense just like the business meal.

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#196
post #76
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "Don't tip standing up. If you're ordering at a counter, that's not a tipped job. What are you even tipping for anyway?" And what am I getting when I'm sitting down? The restaurant should be paying this person to bring me my order just as much as they pay the cashier that rings up the order "standing up". The whole thing is ridiculous and we're just pandering to a very vocal and particularly nasty minority's opinio…

I agree, but tipping at sit-down restaurants is far more culturally ingrained. Tipping at counter-ordering restaurants is newer, and a gray area, there's still time to nip it in the bud before it becomes the same cultural expectation.

in the USA, not in other parts of the world.

The price for food i see includes all costs, ingredients, service and preparation. Only in North america does this weird pressure exist to pay service workers extra, untaxed money.

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#197
post #17

IMO it's just bad policy all round without a significantly higher level of detail. For example, how do we classify a tip vs a wage? If we're not very, very specific about it's going to be yet another tax loophole exploited by the rich who will pay each other $1 for work and then 'tip' thousands more. Sure you’re an engineer on staff now but wouldn’t you want to be a freelancer, paid minimum wage and then a healthy “t…

I would say this is ridiculous, until I read Snyder v. United States[1,2]. > Held: Section 666 proscribes bribes to state and local officials but does not make it a crime for those officials to accept gratuities for their past acts. Pp. 7–16. 1. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-108_8n5a.pdf . 2. https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/snyder-v-united-...

"gratuities" seems synonymous with paid speaking gigs and book deals.

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#198
post #17

IMO it's just bad policy all round without a significantly higher level of detail. For example, how do we classify a tip vs a wage? If we're not very, very specific about it's going to be yet another tax loophole exploited by the rich who will pay each other $1 for work and then 'tip' thousands more. Sure you’re an engineer on staff now but wouldn’t you want to be a freelancer, paid minimum wage and then a healthy “t…

I would much rather see a simplified tax system.

We still have the carried interest loophole. Warren Buffett's secretary is still paying a higher tax rate than him.

There has to be a better solution than this massive tax code that keeps growing year after year.

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#199
post #47

We're moving to a world that most restaurants won't have servers taking your food and drinks order. This is already happening in Seattle, multiple spots are now counter style ordering, you order, get a number and someone just comes from the kitchen to deliver the food. Some of them also have a QR code associated with your number which you can scan to order follow up items. Tipping more than 10% for counter style orde…

If I order standing up I’m not tipping. It’s that simple.

Re: Is 'No tax on tips' a distraction from the fight to end sub-minimum wages?

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People got generous during COVID and businesses are trying to take advantage of that and extend it to beyond COVID. During COVID I would tip my normal sitdown restaurant amount for takeout. But not anymore.

> People got generous during COVID True, but the problem really seemed to start when the swivel-to-face-customer POS terminals from Square/etc started to be used - the ones that display these 15/20/25% tip prompts. I'm trying to think if I've ever seen one of these terminals that doesn't prompt for a tip?!

Square takes a cut of the entire payment, including tip.
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