[Revel]

Its not a gift. No service- No tip. I am so tired of hearing that tips are a gift. They are not. I I walked up to waitress that did not serve me and gave them some money then that would be a gift.

[MayflowerMadam]

“I walked up to waitress that did not serve me and gave them some money then that would be a gift.”

If the establishment’s policy is to pool/share tips, then if you only tipped the waitress that served you, the other waitress eventually would receive your money. It’s all very confusing.

[jean michael]

I won’t tip at all if it’s a gift. Gifts are a private matter.

[Alberta's Child]

You do not have a contract or an employer-employee relationship with the waitress, so it is not legally considered compensation for services rendered.

It's not as clearly defined as you make it sound.

If you left something other than money as a tip, would you still consider it "income?"