General Discussion

IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)

35. Dude, I am addressing the implications of NOT reporting on Social Security.

Fri Aug 8, 2014, 06:01 AM

Aug 2014

The "myth" is that servers are usually college students or just in it temporarily, but my real life experience is that a large percentage of servers are grown ADULTS with YEARS (not just a few months) of experience.

There is no question that sub-minimum wage is INSANE and HORRIBLE; that is not the subject of your post. Your topic was how to get more tip money into their hands (which I support).

My question, which you have completely ignored, is whether NON-REPORTING INCOME is going to screw with retirement and disability benefits. And yes, I understand that low income wage earners might not have the "luxury" of thinking ahead in such a fashion, but I am asking the question, so either answer it, or admit you don't care about the long term effects of avoiding reporting income which for the Very Poor Person will be returned as a tax refund anyway.

Disclaimer: Not a tax accountant. Not a Social Security expert. Questioning some of my assumptions, including putting the tip on my credit card to make sure my server gets the FULL benefit of accounting for it.

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45 replies

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An Education on Tipping. Tip in cash when you can. [View all] dballance Aug 2014 OP

K&R.... daleanime Aug 2014 #1

Yup, we do that too. n/t CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2014 #2

Absolutely. A friend who had worked his way through grad school as a merrily Aug 2014 #3

I never knew folks got shafted like that however littlewolf Aug 2014 #4

I have also heard that employers often skim some or even most tblue37 Aug 2014 #5

K&R ReRe Aug 2014 #6

That is exactly what I do. littlemissmartypants Aug 2014 #7

Am reposting this to FB - thanks for this! Divernan Aug 2014 #8

I always tip in cash unless I don't have enough cash on me. nt kelliekat44 Aug 2014 #9

Thanks for the info. We rarely carry much cash, but could easily arrange to do so-- eridani Aug 2014 #10

i haven't been a server in about 20 years and that is a dramatic change ProdigalJunkMail Aug 2014 #11

A DUer opening a restaurant was shocked when the credit machine tech asked him TexasProgresive Aug 2014 #13

This is such a huge violation of federal regs, egduj Aug 2014 #38

Yup, I also tip more when paying by credit card itsrobert Aug 2014 #15

I like to tip with my credit card itsrobert Aug 2014 #12

Always tip in cash for one other reason... Emelina Aug 2014 #14

first I always tip & mostly good depending on the server preformance santroy79 Aug 2014 #16

This is going to sound goofy.. sendero Aug 2014 #17

Well, yep. That does sound goofy. You can overcome that though. dballance Aug 2014 #18

I write on the line for the tip, "Left at table." nt raccoon Aug 2014 #22

or I write cash in the spot Phentex Aug 2014 #25

Duh. Thank you, I feel silly for not having realized this before your OP. Zorra Aug 2014 #19

I actually didn't know about how that worked until my sister worked as a server. NuclearDem Aug 2014 #20

If the server doesn't pay taxes on the $$$ (which becomes "underground economy money") IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #21

Probably, but a rather large chunk of servers Lurks Often Aug 2014 #28

I have family who started thinking that way, but found IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #36

You are NOT seriously dinging servers for not reporting all their tips. Do you understand IRS regs? dballance Aug 2014 #31

Dude, I am addressing the implications of NOT reporting on Social Security. IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #35

If you are so worried about Social Security then let's take the cap off. dballance Aug 2014 #39

What we have here is a failure to communicate. You don't even understand what I am talking about. IdaBriggs Aug 2014 #40

I try to remember to carry cash in the right denominations. Orsino Aug 2014 #23

I always do that, but for a different reason Lurks Often Aug 2014 #24

You know where people are terrible at tipping? liberal N proud Aug 2014 #26

We have to tip the Housekeepers now too? NightWatcher Aug 2014 #44

Always. Iggo Aug 2014 #27

Cash? tabasco Aug 2014 #29

LOL, I know what you mean. dballance Aug 2014 #30

It's also a window for that money to go untaxed. maced666 Aug 2014 #32

It's also a window for people living below the poverty line to keep their wages. Your argument fails dballance Aug 2014 #34

I see that as a feature, not a bug. Nye Bevan Aug 2014 #41

Things may have changed, but back when I was in college Ruby the Liberal Aug 2014 #33

k&r Liberal_in_LA Aug 2014 #37

I only use a credit card Go Vols Aug 2014 #42

Lol... nobody likes to pay taxes - the real reason waiters prefer cash taught_me_patience Aug 2014 #43

I've been tipping with cash ever since I was driving a cab... George II Aug 2014 #45