Bar & Restaurant Work: Ownership of Tips
Many people work within the hospitality industry in jobs such as bartending or waiting-on in restaurants and although their basic hourly wage is often set at minimum wage, they can often double their income and earn even more than double as a result of the tips or 'gratuities' they receive from customers.
Difference Between Tips and Service Charges
Tips are given voluntarily by customers to staff as a reward for the service they've received. This amount is discretionary here in the UK and not compulsory, unlike some other countries where, though also not compulsory, a certain percentage of the overall bill is usually added and left as a tip if the service has been good.Tips are usually administered in one of two ways. The proprietor of the hotel, bar, pub or restaurant will either allow staff to collect tips individually or they'll be collected in what's known as a 'tronc'. This term derives from the French meaning 'collection box' often referred to in the UK as the 'tip jug'. In this scenario, the tips might have been intended for a specific individual but they will be required to place any tips in the tronc to be distributed amongst the staff at a later time. The tronc will be run by a member of staff (troncmaster) who is acting independently of the employer. If the company uses a tronc, it's for the troncmaster (who cannot be the employer or a director of the company) to stipulate how the tips are divided up. If the employer does not have any say on how the tips are shared out, then the tips are not subject to National Insurance (NI) contributions although they are still legally liable for tax which should be paid via the troncmaster if he/she is responsible for dividing and sharing the tips.
Service charges, on the other hand, are compulsory additions to the price charged for a service and, in the hospitality industry, they are usually between 10% and 15% of the total cost of the bill. These are collected by the employer and, if shared amongst the employees via the payroll, they are subject to both tax and NI.
HM Revenue & Customs Implications
Many employers and employees are often guilty of 'overlooking' tips and gratuities when it comes to tax and NI and employees in particular often mistakenly view tips as a 'cash in hand bonus' to their wages. However, it's important to state that ignorance is no escape from the law and mistakes relating to this area can be very costly to an employer if investigated by HMRC and found to be a contravention of the law.The key things to remember are that income tax is due on all tips, no matter how they are given. If tips are offered in cash from the customer directly to the employee, then the employee should declare them for tax purposes. If the tips come by way of being added to a bill paid for by credit card, then it's the employer's duty to declare them for tax.
If any tronc has not been formally registered with the Inland Revenue, then the business is responsible for deducting the tax and if it doesn't want to be liable for NI contributions too, it must ensure that it has no influence on the way by which the tips are divided. This can be done by holding a written record signed by the staff outlining how they themselves have decided to divide the tips.
The HMRC has recently revised its guidelines on tips and troncs and more detailed information can be found on its website or by obtaining the leaflet E24.
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I recently left my job at a restaurant in cleckheaton and during the 6 months I was there I never received a share of the tips we received, and after speaking with other people working there, they hadn't either and after being there 4 months I turned 18 but my employer never asked for my NI number, is this illegal?
Babygirl - 4-Feb-20 @ 11:16 PM
In my workplace we part-timers do not get any share of the tips acquired at work. Is this legal?
Abhishek - 23-Nov-19 @ 12:17 PM
I have just left my job where tips are paid out every 3 months with wages into bank with tax deducted.
My former employer states if you leave within that 3 month period you forfeit your tips. Is this legal?
The 3 month period wAs September-end November and I questioned it as I left on November 17th less than 2 weeks off the 3 month period. I was told sorry you won’t get tips (of approximately £150) unless i work till the end of the month.
Racs - 19-Nov-19 @ 7:06 AM
TRONC is just another source of money for your employer. Extremely useful for covering wastage, breakage, spillage etc.. Don't be fooled. Boycott hospitality parasites paying minimum wage and taking hard earned money out of your pocket.
Kev - 29-Aug-19 @ 3:02 AM
The director of the company I work for is taking the largest amount of the tronc pot and also paying family members who don't even work here out of the tips also, is this legal
Austin - 1-Jul-19 @ 11:31 AM
Hi i work in a very busy restaurant in Huddersfield, me and most of my colleagues we don’t get much tips because we all know that the managers and supervisor they are taking the most of it . What shall we do?
Tore - 21-Jun-19 @ 7:18 PM
Hi i work in a busy restaurant in Huddersfield and me and my par time colleagues we are not getting much tips even if the restaurant in a quiet week does 2000 costumers and the tip very well . We all know that who take the big chunk of them are the managers an the supervisor. What shall we do?
Tore - 21-Jun-19 @ 7:12 PM
My daughter is a part time waitress at a local pub. She used to get a portion of the tips, but now the tips are used by the management to cover money which has been ‘lost’. Therefore, she has had no tips since before December 2018. Is this legal?
Golly - 30-May-19 @ 12:02 PM
Can i be held liable for buying on an account that we used for 2 years and employer said stop, buy cash somewhere else but there was never enough cash so in the interest of the restaurant i bought from that supplier on account.
Bernice - 21-Apr-19 @ 7:40 PM
I have been working as a K/Porter for the last few years and when I started all tips where shared equally, over the last few months it seems like the head chef gives us a minimum and he pockets the rest , this could be in excess of hundreds is he legally to do this as there was no consultation.
Samster - 7-Apr-19 @ 12:40 PM
I have just started a new job (chef) and part of the reason I took the job on a lower wage was due to being promised tips (monthly). I have found out that because somebody has broken a printer on the bar that our wages are being spent on a new printer. Is that legal? Firstly I don't work near a printer, secondly I wasn't even employed then, thirdly should it not be declared 'wear and tear'? It is a brewery ran pub and not fully independent so surely that should cover costs? What are the laws on deductions for broken equiptment.
I've looked on ACAS and other websites and assuming that even though customers pay workers for their service, employers can just do what they want anyways? Renders the whole tips scheme useless. We have a tronc, but he's the GM and he says its going towards the printer.
Meemee - 10-Oct-18 @ 9:08 PM
My 17yo son is working as a waiter for a large hotel chain, and has been told that he will only be offered breakfast or lunch shifts, and therefore he is not entitled to a share of tips. Is this correct?
MacDad - 15-Sep-18 @ 5:18 PM
I have been working in a cafe run by the large national charity. We have been told that we are not allowed to accept any tips and instead must put any tips given into a charity donations box. Can our employers legally do this?
Abbs - 17-Aug-18 @ 7:59 PM
Hi,
I've been working at Everyman Cinema what works like a restaurant and bar, we serve food and drinks but you're watching a film. (Thought I explain if some people haven't heard of the company yet). Our venue is having a staff party and they'll be using tips money and won money from an upselling competition toward this event. Unfortunately I cannot make it due to family issues. I've talked to several managers about it and even mentioning that they're using our tips money all they said is they can't do anything about it and it's not their fault that I can't make it...Now if I'm well aware they can't keep the tips money from me as I'm a member a staff as well as the others. Is there anything I can do about it at all? Would very much appreciate any help. Thank you
Zara - 27-Apr-18 @ 7:53 PM
Cazper - Your Question:
I work in a night club and I was wondering is my manager aloud to take my tips off me we do not have a tonc jar our tips are our tips but is my manager or boss aloud to take my tips off me
Our Response:
All workers should be fully informed on the distribution and breakdown of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges and the level and purpose of any deductions. Business should seek to reach agreement with workers on any change of policy. Therefore, you would have to ask your employer what the company policy is. You can see more via the link here , if you wish to find out what the code of best practice is.
Studentastic - 17-Apr-18 @ 3:19 PM
I have been working as a waitress for a year now and we share all the tips which is fine but I found out that the company I work for does not pay tax as they change there name all the time and as for the times it's about how many hours you do not how much tips we get off customers it's ment to be £0.50 per hour but it's less than that
Lizzy - 17-Apr-18 @ 2:20 PM
Keane - Your Question:
I have been working at a restaurant as a Kitchen Porter for 8 months. Today I found out that everyone but me gets tipped. All other staff (including chefs and management) get tips distributed between and I’m wondering if this is legal or in any way fair? (I have never been given any extra money from them)
Our Response:
You would have to speak to your line manager directly regarding this matter. As tips are unregulated payments, there are no specific rules about their distribution, please see link here.
Studentastic - 16-Apr-18 @ 10:44 AM
I have been working at a restaurant as a Kitchen Porter for 8 months. Today I found out that everyone but me gets tipped. All other staff (including chefs and management) get tips distributed between and I’m wondering if this is legal or in any way fair? (I have never been given any extra money from them)
Keane - 15-Apr-18 @ 1:38 AM
I work in a night club and I was wondering is my manager aloud to take my tips off me we do not have a tonc jar our tips are our tips but is my manager or boss aloud to take my tips off me
Cazper - 14-Apr-18 @ 6:13 PM
I am 17 and work in a bar waitressing and washing up. I feel like the tips I earn get distributed unfairly since they are split between me, and the two owners (the chef and bartender). I would like to know if they legally have the right to do this.
deanna - 31-Mar-18 @ 8:48 PM
tiggerr - Your Question:
I would like to ask if my boss/owner of the restaurant can keep all the electronic tips that the costumers leave. this represents 99% of the tips.also he did not gave any of this info when people start working for then. can he do this? is it legal?thank you
Our Response:
The government has a Code of Best Practice on tips that says how your employer should handle them. It’s voluntary - your employer doesn’t have to follow it - but if they do, they should have a policy on tips, please see gov.uk link here , for further information.
Studentastic - 12-Mar-18 @ 9:48 AM
i would like to ask if my boss/owner of the restaurant can keep all the electronic tips that the costumers leave. this represents 99% of the tips.
also he did not gave any of this info when people start working for then. can he do this? is it legal?
thank you
tiggerr - 11-Mar-18 @ 11:56 AM
Mona - Your Question:
I am working as a front desk operator in an organization.just set up 2 months ago. n when people give the tip amount in my hands after partying n sd this is for the staff members.bt all gt d tip bt I was sd that front desk does not gets any tip.is it true.or are they unfair to me.
Our Response:
You would have to ask your employer what the company policy is and whether the tips are shared. There are no set rules regarding this matter.
Studentastic - 13-Feb-18 @ 9:25 AM
I am working as a front desk operator in an organization ..just set up 2 months ago.. n when people give the tip amount in my hands after partying n sd this is for the staff members..bt all gt d tip bt I was sd that front desk does not gets any tip..is it true..or are they unfair to me..
Mona - 12-Feb-18 @ 2:28 PM
Ez - Your Question:
Hello, I’m working in a restaurant at the moment. I’m starting to feel terrible working there because of how they operate the tips. I’ve been working there for 3 months and I’ve had suspicions about the tipping system because I only ever get around £20-£30 during the week. I’ve just recently found out that my managers would count all the tips as a whole and then split them up to the staff according to how much hours they worked. That is what I’m worried about because the tips that I would get from customers during Friday and Saturday which is the busiest days would also be shared to the staff who weren’t even working at those days. I feel that it’s really unfair because some nights there’s just me and a manager working and it could get really busy so both of us would get a lot of tips from the customers but those tips will also be shared to everyone. Is there anything I could do about this? Legality wise? Plus these tips are not even recorded in our payslips which is even more worrying because there could be more tips going into someone else’s pocket.
Our Response:
I can only direct you to the gov.uk link here for further information, as it is a tricky arena to give any set/concrete advice, as non exists.
Studentastic - 6-Feb-18 @ 12:55 PM
Hello, I’m working in a restaurant at the moment. I’m starting to feel terrible working there because of how they operate the tips. I’ve been working there for 3 months and I’ve had suspicions about the tipping system because I only ever get around £20-£30 during the week. I’ve just recently found out that my managers would count all the tips as a whole and then split them up to the staff according to how much hours they worked. That is what I’m worried about because the tips that I would get from customers during Friday and Saturday which is the busiest days would also be shared to the staff who weren’t even working at those days. I feel that it’s really unfair because some nights there’s just me and a manager working and it could get really busy so both of us would get a lot of tips from the customers but those tips will also be shared to everyone. Is there anything I could do about this? Legality wise? Plus these tips are not even recorded in our payslips which is even more worrying because there could be more tips going into someone else’s pocket.
Ez - 30-Jan-18 @ 4:31 AM
Work as a Head Chef....over 10 yrs in one place now. Tips are collectedby Gm and owner. Thusfar my kitchen team received £160 over those years. Knowing full well tips are taken every day , I been told by Gm tips are not for the Chefs.....he keeps it to himself
Boss - 2-Aug-17 @ 5:11 AM
Hi.
A company I am working with at a few of the UK festivals says that all tips given will be paid to a local charty.
Is this even legal? Thought staff tips were for the staff? Presuming that the tips are actually being given to a charity that is...
Can I ask for proof of said tips actually being given to a charity?
Thanks
FestivalBar - 21-Jul-17 @ 6:18 PM
I've worked for pub serving food over a year we put all tips in jar that go upstairs not seen again. I believe should be shared equally to all staff working during food service. When asking about tips am told we use all years tips to go on staff Christmas meal. We did this only using 25%of our tips we now 6months into our 2nd year tips continue to build our employer even had cheek to say someone steal tip money during periods we are quite so obviously not collecting amounts that satisfy them. How much do they want just don't seem a fair way on staff. We just collecting money to pay for staff outing usually ends up all new starters benefiting from. So now I'm not happy to take tips from customers as not given to staff. Now Drinks have come issue having to record whom bought it on what day only have 7days to drink. Not be a drinker feel little over the top. So not only keep our tips keep our drinks too.
Jo - 24-Jun-17 @ 10:22 AM
Hi. I'm a chef and work for a company that withholds tips to cover loss within the business. ie. Too many breakages - tips, GP not good enough - tips. In fact any excuse not to pay tips. I've not had tips now for four months as kitchen have been denied tips. However, employers have a share and the FOH team but generally it is with-held and put back in the business to offset against losses or errors. Is this legal practice
Panic - 6-Sep-16 @ 1:31 PM
