Tipping on top of tax?

tokie

Golden Member
Jun 1, 2006
1,491
0
0
OK, so I know this is *yet* another tipping thread, but I believe this aspect of it has not been covered yet.

Everywhere in Canada/Toronto I've been, people tip on the amount of the regular meal, not the total after tax. So if my meal is $10 before tax, a 15% tip would be $1.50. It used to be convenient when the sales tax was 15% in Ontario, because a 15% tip would be the same amount as the tax.

I noticed during a recent visit to NYC that the "suggested tips" on receipts were calculated using the after-tax total. Am I supposed to tip the government for taxing me or something? Realistically, this little trick takes the tip up from 15% to a total of maybe 20% or so, depending on the tax in your state.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,761
20,337
146
That little trick makes sure you're counting, subtle math skills enforcer :) Unless of course you don't care, then you pay more..
 

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
I tip on after tax because I am not overly anal retentive and try not to let $1 make a huge difference in my life.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,300
14,714
146
Proper tipping would remove the sales tax before calculating the tip, but it's such a minuscule amount that it's hardly worth messing with.

15% * 8.25% sales tax = 1.2375% Hardly worth the effort. (62 cents on $50)
 

LucJoe

Golden Member
Jan 19, 2001
1,295
1
0
Realistically, this little trick takes the tip up from 15% to a total of maybe 20% or so, depending on the tax in your state.

Huh?

Assume $100 tab. 15% = $15 tip. With 8% tax, 15% = $16.20

You wouldn't be paying "maybe 20% or so" unless tax was ~35% which is ludicrous.

Also, who tips 15% anymore?
 

tokie

Golden Member
Jun 1, 2006
1,491
0
0
Huh?

Assume $100 tab. 15% = $15 tip. With 8% tax, 15% = $16.20

You wouldn't be paying "maybe 20% or so" unless tax was ~35% which is ludicrous.

Also, who tips 15% anymore?

Tax in Toronto is 13% (used to be 15%). It is 15% in several other provinces.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
OK, so I know this is *yet* another tipping thread, but I believe this aspect of it has not been covered yet.

Everywhere in Canada/Toronto I've been, people tip on the amount of the regular meal, not the total after tax. So if my meal is $10 before tax, a 15% tip would be $1.50. It used to be convenient when the sales tax was 15% in Ontario, because a 15% tip would be the same amount as the tax.

I noticed during a recent visit to NYC that the "suggested tips" on receipts were calculated using the after-tax total. Am I supposed to tip the government for taxing me or something? Realistically, this little trick takes the tip up from 15% to a total of maybe 20% or so, depending on the tax in your state.


I always tip pretax. no way do they deserve extra because of tax.
 

Ryland

Platinum Member
Aug 9, 2001
2,810
13
81
Last time I checked the "suggested" amount for a tip was 20% so I calculate 15% on the after tax figuring it will be close enough.
 

crab

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2001
7,330
19
81
I just grab whatever handful of change is in my pocket and throw it on the ground for the midget waiter to pick up.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,761
20,337
146
You thought a 15% sales tax was convenient?

LOL Canada.

They're taxes are higher because the government provides more services...I can't believe I'm actually typing this, you have to be joking...
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
I tip on top of tax because the difference it not worth it to me.
Also, most people are bad tippers, so I am helping even things out. :)

$1 per dish.
What if you order food that come on a plate or in a bowl?
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
I tip on top of tax because the difference it not worth it to me.
Also, most people are bad tippers, so I am helping even things out. :)


What if you order food that come on a plate or in a bowl?

Depends how much cleavage the server was showing.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,584
984
126
OK, so I know this is *yet* another tipping thread, but I believe this aspect of it has not been covered yet.

Everywhere in Canada/Toronto I've been, people tip on the amount of the regular meal, not the total after tax. So if my meal is $10 before tax, a 15% tip would be $1.50. It used to be convenient when the sales tax was 15% in Ontario, because a 15% tip would be the same amount as the tax.

I noticed during a recent visit to NYC that the "suggested tips" on receipts were calculated using the after-tax total. Am I supposed to tip the government for taxing me or something? Realistically, this little trick takes the tip up from 15% to a total of maybe 20% or so, depending on the tax in your state.

Not quite.

$100 bill plus 8.75% tax (that's the sales tax rate here in San Diego) brings the total up to $108.75. If you calculate a 15% tip on $108.75 it comes out to $16.31 or just a little over 16%. Even if tax was 15% it would still only come out to a little over 17%...not 20%.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,738
126
OK, so I know this is *yet* another tipping thread, but I believe this aspect of it has not been covered yet.

Everywhere in Canada/Toronto I've been, people tip on the amount of the regular meal, not the total after tax. So if my meal is $10 before tax, a 15% tip would be $1.50. It used to be convenient when the sales tax was 15% in Ontario, because a 15% tip would be the same amount as the tax.

I noticed during a recent visit to NYC that the "suggested tips" on receipts were calculated using the after-tax total. Am I supposed to tip the government for taxing me or something? Realistically, this little trick takes the tip up from 15% to a total of maybe 20% or so, depending on the tax in your state.

tip b4 tax is the norm.

in nyc, just double the tax if you dont want to do multiplication.
tax = ~8.75% so double is 17.5%.
hm.. almost the same as 15% on top of tax??
 

Vic Vega

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2010
4,535
4
0
I use a predetermined amount for tips that I give based on quality of service and quality of food. For meals under $50 that are outstanding (food/service) will tip $10. Average to mediocre service gets $5 to $3 and poor service gets no tip. That's right, no tip.

I am not obligated to tip at all, it's something I do because I like to tip for reasonable service.
 

Ninjahedge

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,149
1
91
You tip on the before-tax amount.

If all you have is after tax, just go 15% and round up.

The easiest thing to do is take the pre-tax, round it up to the nearest dollar, give 15% and then round up again. You should be at about 16%-18% depending on how expensive your meal was.

Then, if you liked it, you can just put some cash on the table in addition to your CC receipt.

For some reason, that income rarely gets declared... :confused:
 

Juddog

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2006
7,851
6
81
Since tax in my area is 8%, I just double what I paid for tax as a tip.
 

Vic Vega

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2010
4,535
4
0
You tip on the before-tax amount.

If all you have is after tax, just go 15% and round up.

The easiest thing to do is take the pre-tax, round it up to the nearest dollar, give 15% and then round up again. You should be at about 16%-18% depending on how expensive your meal was.

Then, if you liked it, you can just put some cash on the table in addition to your CC receipt.

For some reason, that income rarely gets declared... :confused:

There is no standard for tipping. Everyone tips differently.
 

mb

Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
If the service is really really good I will tip on the after-tax amount.

It's weird. Some people get angry when I do that, but I don't care. It's not like I always do it. Just think of it as tipping a higher percentage, not a regular tip on the after-tax amount.