same here in ny... but what about the eight bucks or so an hour in tips that only one or two of is declaired in taxes??? i say pay them a flat rate and do away with tipping all together. same here in ny... but what about the eight bucks or so an hour in tips that only one or two of is declaired in taxes??? i say pay them a flat rate and do away with tipping all together.Just about everywhere I go there is a tip jar...are these declared--probably not. I ordered an iced tea and there is the tip jar at Starbucks. Order a sandwich at a walk up and there is the tip jar. It goes on and on. I thought we had to tip wait staff because they got sub-minimum wage but I guess I was wrong in California--should have known.