Annual & Holiday Tipping

by Alexis Jeffries
MONEY Magazine – Money Poll
It’s an annual dilemma: What’s an appropriate holiday tip for the people who serve you throughout the year? Etiquette expert Peggy Post recommends a gift of a week’s to a month’s pay for full time help like a nanny; and the cost of at least one visit for people who provide a regular, less frequent service, such as a hairstylist. But you probably also want to keep in line with what your neighbors are giving so you don’t look like a tightwad. In a MONEY poll, readers owned up to the tipping sums below; Post says they are suitably generous.

Average Tip

  • Mail Carrier – $20
  • Hair Dresser – $20
  • Cleaning Person – $75
  • Occasional Babysitter – $25
  • Full-time Nanny – $270
  • Gardener/Yard Worker – $50
  • Newspaper Carrier – $15
  • Garbage Collector – $20
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IRS Extends Food Industry Tip Reporting Program

IR-2009-110, Dec. 1, 2009

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today extended for an additional two years its program that simplifies the record keeping burden for reporting tip income in the food and beverage industry.

IRS Tipping Tax LawsThe Attributed Tip Income Program (ATIP) was first announced in 2006 in Revenue Procedure 2006-30. The program, which was originally set to expire Dec. 31, 2009, has been extended to Dec. 31, 2011, under Revenue Procedure 2009-53 issued today.

Employers who participate in ATIP report the tip income of employees based on a formula that uses a percentage of gross receipts, which are generally allocated among employees based on the practices of the restaurant.

Both employees and employers benefit from participation in the ATIP program. The IRS will not initiate a tip examination during the period the employer and employee participate in ATIP. Participating employees do not have to keep a daily tip log or other tip records.

Enrollment is simple. Employers elect participation in ATIP by checking the designated box on Form 8027, Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips. Employees who work for a participating employer can easily elect to participate in ATIP by signing an agreement with their employer to have their tip income computed under the program and reported as wages.

Form 8027 is available on IRS.gov, or by calling the IRS toll-free at 1-800-TAX-FORM (829-3676).

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December Special Food & Drink Days (American).

National Fruit Cake Month
National Egg Nog Month
Cookie Cutter Week 1st Week
Lager Beer Week 2nd Week
National Egg Nog Week 4th Week
National Pie Day December 1
National Fritters Day December 2
National Apple Pie Day December 3
National Cookie Day December 4
National Sacher Torte Day December 5
National Gazpacho Day December 6
Microwave Oven Day December 6
National Cotton Candy Day December 7
National Chocolate Brownie Day December 8
National Pastry Day December 9
National Lager Day December 10
National Noodle Ring Day December 11
National Cocoa Day December 12
National Bouilabaisse Day December 14
National Cupcake Day December 15
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day December 16
National Maple Syrup Day December 17
National Roast Suckling Pig Day December 18
National Hard Candy Day December 19
National Fried Shrimp Day December 20
National Sangria Day December 20
National Hamburger Day December 21
Kiwi Fruit Day (California) December 21
National Date Nut Bread Day December 22
National Pfeffernuesse Day December 23
National Egg Nog Day December 24
National Pumpkin Pie Day December 25
National Candy Cane Day December 26
National Fruit Cake Day December 27
National Chocolate Candy Day December 28
Pepper Pot Day December 29
National Bicarbonate of Soda Day December 30
National Champagne Day December 31
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Build a Better Latte with Latte Art!

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Couple arrested for not tipping - continued...

examiner logo header Couple arrested for not tipping   continued...

Continued from “Jipped on the Tip” by Doreen Linder of the Allentown Headlines Examiner

Last week told the story of two college students who got arrested for not paying their gratuity.  Well as anticipated, the charges have been dropped.  Northampton County DA John Morganelli said that this is a

Lehigh Pub

Lehigh Pub

matter that should be processed civilly, not criminally.  The City of Bethlehem put out a police statement saying that Northampton County DA John Morganelli felt the,  “charge was not adequate.”

John Wagner and Leslie Pope had drinks, wings, and salad.  They had to go up to the bar to refill their drinks and they had to go find their silverware.  The waitress spent most of her time outside smoking.  When their bill came they refused to pay the 18% gratuity.  They refused to pay it and the bartender called the police.  The police then arrested Wagner and Pope.

The story has made national headlines.  When one looked up Lehigh Pub in an internet search, the second tab down, Yelp.com.  Some of the comments are, “Close this place down,” or “I get better service in a soup kitchen.”  Wagner and Pope are scheduled to be on CNN today.

Even the head of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, Mr. Patrick Conway said that he did not understand this.  Restaurants typically go on repeat business and want happy customers.  Well Pope and Wagner are not happy and now the whole world knows it.

When the restaurant manager William Sheehan was asked about the charges being dropped, he said it was, “news to him.”  He then read a statement crafted by his lawyer.  They got lawyers involved?  How much is that costing them.  I’m sure much more than the $18.60 lost.

According to the Morning Call Newspaper the definition true definition of gratuity is, “A gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or a bellhop; tip.”  Therefore if you do not like the service, you do not tip.

By the way, who has ever heard of a bar having an 18% gratuity?  This is a pub.  Not a first class restaurant.  Lehigh Pub is not exactly the hotel Ritz.

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