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Do you tip before or after tax when eating out?

P: 7/11/2009 6:10:02 PM

phoenixgirl

Ideal Rock
Total Posts: 2,495
Last Post: 11/23/2009
Member Since: 3/20/2003

The other night my friend said you don't have to tip on the tax, just the subtotal. I had never thought about it before, but in our city the meal tax is a whopping 11%, so it makes a difference.

What do you guys think?

ETA: This is assuming that you received good service and want to leave a good tip.

Posted: 7/11/2009 6:10:02 PM

There are 40 replies to this message. There are 30 replies on this page.

P: 7/11/2009 6:13:30 PM
Erinleigh Cut Rock Total Posts: 360 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 5/8/2009	I've always tipped 15% after taxes (so on the total bill)... but never include the alcohol tax in that. ************************** Engaged September 26th, 2009!
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:13:30 PM

P: 7/11/2009 6:14:37 PM
House Cat Ideal Rock Total Posts: 513 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 2/22/2009	I tip 20% after tax. Food servers count on our tips to get by and the difference to me is just a few bucks anyway. If you're going through hell, keep going. -Winston Churchill
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:14:37 PM

P: 7/11/2009 6:21:57 PM
D&T Ideal Rock Total Posts: 7,441 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 10/27/2008	we tip between 15%-20% on the total bill including tax for good to exceptional service. but we also just round up to the nearest dollar. If they were ehh service usually about 10%
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:21:57 PM

P: 7/11/2009 6:24:01 PM
AprilBaby Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,256 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 7/17/2008	I agree, we tip 15-20% on the total bill because the waiters are usually young and need the money. (but your friend is technically correct) "Time is not what you think. Dying? Not the end of everything. We think it is. But what happens on earth is only the beginning." -Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:24:01 PM

P: 7/11/2009 6:29:33 PM
Dancing Fire Ideal Rock Total Posts: 10,218 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 4/3/2004	i'll tip b/t 10%-15% of the total depending on the quality of service. i've been to a couple of Chinese restaurants were they tack on 18% tip w/o telling their customers,hoping the customers wouldn't notice and tip on top of the 18%. it is always harder to find a "mind clean" stone than a eye clean stone.
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:29:33 PM

P: 7/11/2009 6:32:48 PM
mscushion Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,166 Last Post: 11/16/2009 Member Since: 11/15/2008	Every time I tell myself, "you really should tip on the pre-tax total," and every time I feel bad and tip on post-tax. 18-20% if the service was good. But, it does still make me cringe a little bit, particularly at pricey dinners, because I grew up in a culture where tips are under 10% (because service personnel make decent wages).
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:32:48 PM

P: 7/11/2009 6:36:15 PM
neatfreak Ideal Rock Total Posts: 13,452 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 2/17/2007	If the service was great I will tip about 20% post tax. If it was ok but not great I often tip before tax. But I still do 20% because it hurts my brain less than doing 15%.
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:36:15 PM

P: 7/11/2009 6:43:20 PM
Haven Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,057 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 2/16/2007	We always tip 20% before tax. I've never heard of anyone tipping based on the after tax amount. ********************************************************** "I'm sorry I ruined your lives and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR." - Buddy the Elf "Let your inner Liz Taylor out and rock it." - diamondfan
Posted: 7/11/2009 6:43:20 PM

P: 7/11/2009 7:00:23 PM
joelly Ideal Rock Total Posts: 776 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 4/21/2009	20% after tax.
Posted: 7/11/2009 7:00:23 PM

P: 7/11/2009 7:02:08 PM
*DiamondDana** Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,168 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 7/21/2006	I use the "EZ Tip calculator" on my phone...so whatever that is set at. I do include tax when I type in the amount. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you judge people, you have no time to love them ~Mother Teresa
Posted: 7/11/2009 7:02:08 PM

P: 7/11/2009 7:05:47 PM
trillionaire Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,125 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 4/19/2008	I tip before tax. And I've worked for tips before. ******************************** Engaged: 7/18/09! Elopement: 9/25/10, our 7th anniversary! * Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look past the imperfections *
Posted: 7/11/2009 7:05:47 PM

P: 7/11/2009 8:14:24 PM
steph72276 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,877 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 3/16/2005	20% after tax.
Posted: 7/11/2009 8:14:24 PM

P: 7/11/2009 8:15:55 PM
LtlFirecracker Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,010 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 2/29/2008	18-20% before tax.
Posted: 7/11/2009 8:15:55 PM

P: 7/11/2009 8:28:21 PM
jewelerman Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,193 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 9/30/2007	20%before tax.
Posted: 7/11/2009 8:28:21 PM

P: 7/11/2009 8:43:12 PM
jstarfireb Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,143 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 3/24/2007	15% before tax as a standard, but if the service is superb, I'll go up to 20. But always before tax. ************************** "In the end, I wonder if the true movement of the world might not be a voice raised in song." -Muriel Barbary
Posted: 7/11/2009 8:43:12 PM

P: 7/11/2009 8:54:04 PM
elle_chris Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,967 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 2/19/2004	20% before tax. Then again, i've never heard of doing it the other way.. elle
Posted: 7/11/2009 8:54:04 PM

P: 7/11/2009 8:56:02 PM
Tacori E-ring Ideal Rock Total Posts: 16,087 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 8/15/2005	20% (+) after tax...a dollar here and there means MUCH more to them than me (I was a server so I know). My DH and I like to be generous with wait staff so it is usually higher than 20%. Something has got to be REALLY wrong for us to tip less. 20% is standard where we live. ETA: not to spark a debate but let's not forget that servers (in most places) have to tip out food runners, host staff, bar staff, and bus staff as well. So just b/c you leave 20% does not mean they get to keep all of that 20%. Where I worked we had to tip out around 5% of our total SALES a night (including alcohol) Just keep that in mind if you have a really awesome server.
Posted: 7/11/2009 8:56:02 PM

P: 7/11/2009 11:58:56 PM
puffy Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,201 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 11/21/2006	Date: 7/11/2009 8:56:02 PM Author: Tacori E-ring 20% (+) after tax...a dollar here and there means MUCH more to them than me (I was a server so I know). My DH and I like to be generous with wait staff so it is usually higher than 20%. Something has got to be REALLY wrong for us to tip less. 20% is standard where we live. ETA: not to spark a debate but let's not forget that servers (in most places) have to tip out food runners, host staff, bar staff, and bus staff as well. So just b/c you leave 20% does not mean they get to keep all of that 20%. Where I worked we had to tip out around 5% of our total SALES a night (including alcohol) Just keep that in mind if you have a really awesome server. 100% agreed!!! and since we have a toddler now, who is not the messiest or loudest child in the world, but he has his moments, we like to give more. we always clean up after him and make sure we clean things up, but DH insists on it, which is fine with me as well. DH's family runs a very successful restaurant in SF, and we absolutely know how much the servers depend on their tip and what they have to go through on a daily basis, so we keep all these things in mind when we tip, which is usually at least 20% after tax.
Posted: 7/11/2009 11:58:56 PM

P: 7/12/2009 12:35:44 AM
brightlight Ideal Rock Total Posts: 587 Last Post: 10/30/2009 Member Since: 5/20/2009	Wow, I feel kinda cheap now. I double the tax and round up to the nearest dollar, which turns out to be a little over 17% before tax. For exceptional service, I'll add on to the 17%.
Posted: 7/12/2009 12:35:44 AM

P: 7/12/2009 12:52:44 AM
Italiahaircolor Ideal Rock Total Posts: 4,337 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 12/17/2007	Chicago has really high taxes...so I take the tax and double it. ____________________________ Remember to keep your words soft and sweet...you may have to eat them someday.
Posted: 7/12/2009 12:52:44 AM

P: 7/12/2009 1:24:12 AM
Jen_91909 Cut Rock Total Posts: 118 Last Post: 10/23/2009 Member Since: 4/24/2009	20% after tax... I did waitress all through college and know the servers do appreciate those extra couple of dollars a lot.
Posted: 7/12/2009 1:24:12 AM

P: 7/12/2009 1:46:41 AM
cara Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,479 Last Post: 11/18/2009 Member Since: 3/21/2006	I usually tip more than 15% and less than 20% on the after tax amount. Maybe 18% but I'm not that precise. Then I push it a little bit to be progressive, and in response to service both good and bad. If its a really inexpensive place for the meal, like a cheap diner where dinner is under $10 pp including drinks, then I think maybe this server deserves a bit more so maybe tip 20-25%. If its a super pricy meal, especially if there was a $$$ bottle of wine, then maybe I'll start looking at the total before tax and alcohol. Sometimes you really are getting better service at a more expensive restaurant, but sometimes you have to set a limit and say this was not really 5x or 10x the diner service or whatever the amount is.
Posted: 7/12/2009 1:46:41 AM

P: 7/12/2009 2:03:35 AM
MC Ideal Rock Total Posts: 8,835 Last Post: 11/23/2009 Member Since: 2/8/2003	This question is too complicated. . .I just add 20% onto the final number and that is what the tip amount is. With the costs of the meals we eat out, there isn't much difference between the pre and pro tax amount. Most of our dinners are between $60-100.
Posted: 7/12/2009 2:03:35 AM

P: 7/12/2009 8:22:27 AM
Sabine Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,883 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 8/16/2007	I don't know if I even really notice the tax. I tip 20% on top of the total, so I guess it's after tax, but I don't think tax would be that much in the places I go.
Posted: 7/12/2009 8:22:27 AM

P: 7/12/2009 8:23:30 AM
atroop711 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,225 Last Post: 9/19/2009 Member Since: 8/31/2005	I always tip 20% of the final bill...if the svc was really bad it would be reflected on the tip. I've only had to do this 2 times in my lifetime. If the svc is great I will give more than 20%
Posted: 7/12/2009 8:23:30 AM

P: 7/12/2009 9:16:19 AM
Dannielle Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,198 Last Post: 10/22/2009 Member Since: 7/8/2008	We don't tip in Australia, but I think our waitstaff get paid a decent amount to begin with. Walking down the aisle December 4th, 2010!
Posted: 7/12/2009 9:16:19 AM

P: 7/12/2009 9:29:01 AM
ckrickett Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,904 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 7/26/2008	I tip 20% aftertax because I was in the food industry for 5 years and it gets painful sometimes, especially with people that think 5% is decent... BUT I generally expect 15-20% before the tax. If I get that I'm happy. __________________________________________ Power up, win the game!
Posted: 7/12/2009 9:29:01 AM

P: 7/12/2009 9:30:47 AM
gaby06 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,166 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 3/14/2009	Usually 20% before Tax, I did not know that some people tip the TAX as well
Posted: 7/12/2009 9:30:47 AM

P: 7/12/2009 10:22:58 AM
icekid Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,555 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 11/17/2004	I've never heard of people tipping on tax before, either. We tip 20%ish before tax. Interestingly, we lived in Delaware last year where there is no sales tax anyway. I guess the servers there are getting ripped off
Posted: 7/12/2009 10:22:58 AM

P: 7/12/2009 10:27:55 AM
April20 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,065 Last Post: 11/22/2009 Member Since: 8/1/2008	I typically tip 20% after tax, but can see the reasoning for not tipping on the tax. As long as service has been good, I'm fine with 20% on the whole amount. If it's questionable, then I start to lower the percentage until I get to a point that I feel it reflects the quality of service I received.
Posted: 7/12/2009 10:27:55 AM

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