Originally Posted by HilFly

Waitstaff also pay tax on a certain amount in tips that it is assumed that they have earned, whether or not they actually received it. This is to try and counterract the situation of waitstaff not reporting their tips as income to the IRS.

I don't understand why visitors to the US have a problem with tipping waitstaff. In Europe it's built into the prices; in the US it's not. Same thing, just done a different way. Same with taxes. You have to remember that sales tax is not included in the prices in restaurants and stores. The Land of the Free + 5%!

Lucifer is wise not to return to restaurants where he tips 10% - he would probably eat a lot of spit!

British people do have a reputation for being lousy tippers in the U.S..