In restaurantsin the US, do you tip based on the total including tax?

Question

If my restaurant tab is $100 plus $8 in tax, and I leave a $15 tip... will the server interpret that as a 15% tip? Am I stiffing the waiter if I leave tip of 15% on the pre-tax amount?

I'm not asking if 15% is the right amount to tip... you can use any percentage as an example. I really want to know... Do you figure the percentage based on the amount with or without tax?

Answer 1

I always compute tips based on pre-tax amount. However, I know that the "official" recommendation is to use the full amount including tax. But I think that recommendation comes from the restaurant business wanting to maximize income; higher tips for staff means they can keep wages low. However, tip amounts I leave vary greatly depending on service, etc and I don't think waiters take time to calculate percentages. I think they have a pretty good idea of the amount of a decent tip, and judge based on that.

Answer 2

Without tax. The server should be very happy with that amount and should not expect anything from the tax amount. They are not doing anything to earn the tax for the rest. or better yet the Govt. I don't always go by percentages when I tip. If the sevice was excellent for example I have been know to leave $3 to $5 on a hamburger dinner in a restuarant. On the other side of the coin, for terrible service I have left as little as $2 to $3 for a ticket that was $60 or $70.

Answer 3

I usually figure it pre-tax. I'm not sure what the logic is that I should add in what amounts to a "tip tax," but I disagree. I generally tip 15-20%, depending on the service, the condition of the food, etc. To me, the federal government's levying of tax on food is not part of the "service" or the "experience" or what-have-you; as such, I shouldn't tip for that amount.

Unless it's an excessively large bill, it's doubtful that the tax amount is going to affect your tipping all that much, anyway. In your example, it would change your tip from $15 to $16.20. (With a 20% tip, the amount still doesn't change drastically, pre-tax is $20, post-tax would be about $21.60.)

Answer 4

I usually tip 15% on the total bill, including tax. If they did an excepionally good job, I round up to the next dollar or two.

Answer 5

15% of the total bill is standard. I usually tip about 30%. If you frequent a restaurant on a regular basis then leaving a fair tip is not only polite but it's good karma. If your not prepared to leave a tip then go to McDonald's.

Answer 6

Wow! I've been in the restaurant biz for many years, and I don't recall any "etiquette" rules on this subject...

However...I look at the bottom line amount...any server will appreciate the same from everyone...the little teeny bit extra is always a plus, because these monies are used to supplement their salaries to meet minimum wage.

And for general knowledge to readers...we're in the 2000's...go 20%!

Answer 7

There's no hard rule on that. Anyway, what I usually do is calculate the percentage and then round up to the next even dollar, and so that works out about the same, either way.

Answer 8

I usually leave my tip based on the total including the tax.... but I'm sure that either way is fine....

Answer 9

Nope, I tip based on service. If I get crappy service, I won't tip. But if I get great service, I tip sometimes 20 - 30%. This mandatory tipping sucks because it cuts down the job performance. Why should someone who has poor customer service skills get paid for poor performance? They need to be replaced, not tipped... and I do not eat at places that have 'tips included' on the tab.

Answer 10

Usually on the total amount of the bill. My husband and I were both wait staff and we expected to receive our tips based on the total bill.