Interesting airticle

[Calamity Jane]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100
I read this in this morning's Sentinel. I'm not tryting to spark a fire. But it could make for an interesting debate! It's not online, so I'll type it as it's printed. For you in Florida, it's page 2 of the Local & State section. The story is about different people who may run for governor when Jeb Bush's term is up. Enjoy:

'There is, after all, an overlooked local and upstart candidate who has filed papers to run as well. That would be Jamie Gannon, a bartender at Walt Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon, whose first idea was to institute a state-mandated 15 percent tip at restaurants and bars. "<span style="color:blue">That would stop the European tourists from stiffing us</span id="blue">," he said a few months back.'

Hmmmmm....
[/quote]
I probably give more than 15% so he may just have "stiffed himself" silly sod ( said in the best possible taste of course) [msnembarrased]
For everyone that moans about tipping there is always someone who will give a little more.

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100

Another thing you have to understand is around 95% of all tipping is tax deductable. So every time I do my taxes (it's mandatory every year here) I can deduct around $500. So even the US Government knows that these people need the money.
[/quote]

Flyrr, just in case you did not know, "doing Taxes" are mandatory in Europe as well . But I am not sure if we can include tipping as a Tax deductible expense. How can we, without any proof of payment? With the exception of the few occasions where the 'service charge' is included in the bill, tips are effectively a gratuity - therefore 'under the table' so to speak. Even if one kept a record of one's tips over the year, I doubt if a UK taxman will accept that.

[Ray&Sarah]

We don't mind the tipping culture over in the US now, after a few visits you get used to it, most meals out are relatively good value in comparison with the UK anyway.[msnsmile2]

[flyrr100]

Thats interesting. When I lived in the UK I can remember doing one tax return in the 15 years I was working there. Is it mandatory to do one yearly now?

[Cruella DeVilla]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
We don't mind the tipping culture over in the US now, after a few visits you get used to it, most meals out are relatively good value in comparison with the UK anyway.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

MMM but what happens if you go to somewhere like Victoria and Alberts and the bill is in excess of $600 for 4 people, do we have to leave $120 for a tip..[msneek]

[Ray&Sarah]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Cruella DeVilla
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
We don't mind the tipping culture over in the US now, after a few visits you get used to it, most meals out are relatively good value in comparison with the UK anyway.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

MMM but what happens if you go to somewhere like Victoria and Alberts and the bill is in excess of $600 for 4 people, do we have to leave $120 for a tip..[msneek]
[/quote]

Haven't been there CDV but see your point![msnoo][msnsmile]

[Ray&Sarah]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100
Thats interesting. When I lived in the UK I can remember doing one tax return in the 15 years I was working there. Is it mandatory to do one yearly now?
[/quote]

Not mandatory if you are employed and have no benefits like cars etc. I am partially self employed so have to fill one in and Ray has a company car so they send him one too.[msnsmile2]

[flyrr100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100
Thats interesting. When I lived in the UK I can remember doing one tax return in the 15 years I was working there. Is it mandatory to do one yearly now?
[/quote]

Not mandatory if you are employed and have no benefits like cars etc. I am partially self employed so have to fill one in and Ray has a company car so they send him one too.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

It's mandatory here. Most people pay too much tax. We get tax relief on mortgages, kids, tips, work expenses. I have to use my computer for my job, so I can claim it and my internet access on my taxes. Same with my sel phone. I own a vacation home. Thats a huge tax writeoff. I get to claim anything I've done to it. In fact every time I go to Home Depot it goes againsed my taxes. Including the gas I use! Also last year's storms gave me some tax relief. We had to replace our fences. They were an uninsured loss. Tax deductable! So even if we are employed we have to file. Most folks get a check back.
In fact we're getting all our eggs in one basket for our tax specialist.

[flyrr100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Cruella DeVilla
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Ray&Sarah
We don't mind the tipping culture over in the US now, after a few visits you get used to it, most meals out are relatively good value in comparison with the UK anyway.[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

MMM but what happens if you go to somewhere like Victoria and Alberts and the bill is in excess of $600 for 4 people, do we have to leave $120 for a tip..[msneek]
[/quote]

Unless it's included in your bill..... yes! nYou'll be chased out if you don't!

[Nostromo]

If one is PAYE, then the tax is deducted at source. But a lot of business people and others are categorised and have to do yearly Tax returns. As a GP, I am classified as 'self-employed', but since I cannot be bothered to do my own accounting (too busy with OV forums ), I pay an accountant to do it for me. In the end, he saves me more money than what I pay him, so it works out fine.

My wife is PAYE, but even she submits her P60 yearly to her accountant to check that everything is going on fine.