I don’t have answer but I always tip at 20% for good service , more if exceptional service. I give the tip in cash to my server.

Somewhat agree. Personally I don’t agree on a percentage basis for a tip. Took just as much to bring over a $15 plate of liver and onions as a $45 plate of filet mignon. In any case who the heck came up with the idea of putting a recommended tip on the bill?? .

Wait staff A.) get taxed on 15% of their sales ( that may have risen to 20, I’m not sure) so if they get less than that, they’re actually paying taxes on money they didn’t make. It’s automatically deducted from their sales at the end of a shift. B.) they have to tip out what’s called tip share which goes to helpers like bartenders and bussers and the kitchen expeditor.

Great!! Makes up for my max of 15%! Thanks for covering for me

Ok. Two contradicting comments. Which is gospel in Florida?

I generally tip 20%, but the suggested tip amount, usually referenced with several examples at 15, 18, and 20% seem to be calculated differently at various restaurants. Some simply calculate the tip amounts based on the cost of the meal; others calculate the tip based on the “final bill” amount which includes all state/county taxes and sometimes some other fees.

I never include the taxes and other fees as a part of my bill for the purpose of tipping.

Do you know if the moon is still made out of green cheese?

Neither are gospel in Florida. IRS rules are not that simple.

Tipped employees are required to report the amount of tips they receive to their employer. Reported tips are taxed as wages (makes sense).

Most businesses with tipped employees are required to determine if a reasonable amount of tips (8% per IRS 8027) were reported through the year. If not (if it looks like tips were under-reported) then at the end of the year they are required to perform a calculation based on a percentage of sales and "allocate" additional tips to employees on the W-2 form. The employee then can pay taxes on these allocated tips or provide sufficient documentation that they did not actually receive these tips.

"Tipping out" is a policy of an individual business. It is probably common practice for waiters to share tips with bussers and bartenders but I don't believe it is law (or gospel).

For those 0%-15% tippers out there, just be sure to inform your wait staff of that when you sit down. If you are too embarrassed, just stay home.

Someone who saw Americans trying to do math in their heads.

Note that no one is required to pay income tax on tips that they did not earn. The IRS rule for servers is 8 percent of gross restaurant sales. A server can declare a lesser amount when they file their tax return, but they need to be prepared to prove it to the IRS, with contemporaneous records, if they are audited.

Leaving a 5% tip should be shameful

Disgusting to only tip 5%. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should just stay home and cook for yourself and clean up your own mess.

5 % Tipper
 

I hope the local wait staff see your comment on 5% tipping and give you the sevice that you deserve!!

I always tip a minimum of 20% for any food establishment. Some restaurants take the 3% credit card fee they get charged out of the wait staffs tips. FMK does this for example. I tried to get an explanation from FMK on their Facebook page, they deleted my comment. :)