Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: SeekAndFind

Eliminating the income tax for everyone is a better platform. I have experience waiting tables and did so for a number of years. It can be hard, often thankless work. Nevertheless, I’m not sure servers should specifically be singled out, among all other occupations, for income tax exemption.


3 posted on 06/14/2024 8:56:28 PM PDT by mbrfl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: mbrfl

It’s also worth pointing out that servers generally under-report their tip income - particularly cash tips. When people charge their tips it automatically gets reported. Cash tips are reported at the discretion of a server. As a server I would have preferred to see establishments getting away from tips and moving to a gratuity based system, as they have in Canada and Europe. Being stiffed by a cheap customer who received excellent service is one of the most demoralizing things for a server.

BTW, I recently visited my brother in Miami, and see that a lot of restaurants there are switching to a gratuity based system where a certain percentage (usually about 18%) is automatically added on to pay the server. Additional tips above that can still be made, but the server is at least guaranteed to not be stiffed. This probably has to do with the large number of foreign tourists who are used to paying that way. A gratuity based system also helps mitigating the sort of bargaining that sometimes goes on between servers and customers, whereby a customer may sometimes try to pressure servers into getting something extra (an extra dessert or something like that) with the implication that if they don’t cooperate, they won’t get a good tip.


8 posted on 06/14/2024 9:08:32 PM PDT by mbrfl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: mbrfl

Because they’re often paid less than minimum wage because their tips cover the shortfall. Except they lose money when they take vacation days or call out sick. Why should they be treated less than other workers who have paid vacations and sick days they can actually afford to take?


16 posted on 06/14/2024 9:33:28 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Trump 2024!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: mbrfl
Nevertheless, I’m not sure servers should specifically be singled out, among all other occupations, for income tax exemption.

Servers aren't the only ones that get tips. What we should do is eliminate the lower wage for tipped positions (ignoring arguments on minimum wage here), but treat tips the same way gifts are treated - tax-free up to a big amount. Tips aren't income, they're gifts.
78 posted on 06/15/2024 10:47:42 AM PDT by Svartalfiar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

To: mbrfl

THE LIMIT For GIFTS without taxes is around $17,000.

IF a well to do person can GIFT his kids every year-—why is this wrong?

The paperwork restaurants is onerous, also.


84 posted on 06/15/2024 2:21:05 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson