A day without stupid?

[Swammerdami]

Dude, you are old if a day's worth of tips to you means 75 cents.

This isn't about 75 cent tip days. Tips are income for servers. Servers are legally allowed to be paid less in lieu of the tips. My bonus got taxed (heck my cell phone stipend is taxed), tips can be taxed.

Did you even read the post I responded to? It's the IRS and employer code, not me, that are concerned with tips as low as 75¢ per day. I may be old but even I knew that was ridiculously tiny (Hint: divide $20 by a plausible day-per-month count.)

What did you think "Good grief" meant?

 

[Shadowy Man]

Servers are legally allowed to be paid less in lieu of the tips.

not in California. (And several other states).

 

[Elixir]

Servers are legally allowed to be paid less in lieu of the tips.

not in California. (And several other states).

That’s everything that’s wrong with Santa Monica! You can’t get a decent lunch for under fifty bucks, and then you have to give them a “gratuity”, plus the tax on the gratuity you had to pay, plus the tax THEY have to pay. And what do you get for that?
A pier, an everlasting, wonderful pier.
It’s a wonder that all the people don’t end up sleeping on the sidewalks of San Francisco!

 

[Shadowy Man]

Servers are legally allowed to be paid less in lieu of the tips.

not in California. (And several other states).

That’s everything that’s wrong with Santa Monica! You can’t get a decent lunch for under fifty bucks, and then you have to give them a “gratuity”, plus the tax on the gratuity you had to pay, plus the tax THEY have to pay. And what do you get for that?
A pier, an everlasting, wonderful pier.
It’s a wonder that all the people don’t end up sleeping on the sidewalks of San Francisco!

Why would you sleep in your bathroom?

 

[Elixir]

Why would you sleep in your bathroom?

Too expensive in Santa Monica. Had to leave; too much tax on tips.

 

[thebeave]

Dude, you are old if a day's worth of tips to you means 75 cents.

This isn't about 75 cent tip days. Tips are income for servers. Servers are legally allowed to be paid less in lieu of the tips. My bonus got taxed (heck my cell phone stipend is taxed), tips can be taxed.

Did you even read the post I responded to? It's the IRS and employer code, not me, that are concerned with tips as low as 75¢ per day. I may be old but even I knew that was ridiculously tiny (Hint: divide $20 by a plausible day-per-month count.)

What did you think "Good grief" meant?

Good grief? Speaking of old, I think the last time I heard that phrase being used anywhere was by Charlie Brown in a comic strip from 1966. Back when, you know, tips were like 75 cents per day.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

And what about 20% tips at expensive restaurants where the bill is hundreds of dollars? In those cases the waitperson isn't being rewarded for good service, but for the "juice" they had to get the coveted job!

In such cases they're expected to share it with people like the hostess. And you'll find a much higher ratio of waiters to customers at a high end place.

Question: Currently while tips ARE taxed, are employers like restaurants required to track employee tips? Or is it just "guesstimate it on your Form 1040" ?

What about restaurants with mandatory gratuities? Do those "tips" count as Tips?

Yes, they are reported but obviously with cash and no sharing they have no way of knowing. Mandatory gratuities are still considered tips. AFIAK they are only imposed on groups above a certain size (decided by the place) as otherwise such groups rarely tip as expected.

I thought tips were income.

They are. It's a politically popular idea to reduce income tax on those with less income (but a lot of the people who would benefit aren't paying much tax anyway) but it's a loophole you could drive a supertanker through--a lot of professional services have relationships where people would likely go along with making part of the payment a tip.

Hmmm. I didn't think of that. Gakk! Will tickets to see Taylor Swift now include a mandatory gratuity for the backups and stage-hands?

Actually, I was thinking of things like doctors, lawyers etc. Anything where you are providing labor for the customer is considered a service profession. No idea on the status of performing arts.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Speaking more generally, there are TWO types of policy change:
(1) Comprehensive programs which improve the social and/or financial system. Such changes are difficult, especially in the polarized post-rational Amerika.

Agreed.

(2) Small band-aids to improve things a bit. These can be politically popular.

Often a policy which would be very BAD when part of a major comprehensive reform, is GOOD when applied as a politically palatable band-aid.

And I will go so far as to say Harris-Walz should support whatever policies make their election more likely. Scream "Hypocrisy!" at me as loud as you want -- you'll just be showing your own ignorance. The stakes are too serious and dire for anything but the defeat of Trump and his Fascist allies to be the top priority.

It's not a good band-aid. It's purely playing to the audience. The reality is that most tipped workers aren't paying much income tax in the first place. It's mostly FICA and he hasn't clarified whether that would be owed or not.

Likewise, The Felon's recent proposal to not tax social security benefits. Once again, those without all that much aren't taxed in the first place, the actual benefit falls to those with more. That being said, I would like to see it put back to 50% of the benefits are taxable. In the old days the tax code was pretty good about taxing a dollar exactly once. We have seen more and more examples of playing games with the tax code to raise money without it being a "tax increase". Like taxing I think it's 85% of social security once you're above a certain threshold. 50% of your FICA contribution was taxed, 50% was not. The part that wasn't taxed before should be taxed when paid out.

Donald Trump Now Plans To End Social Security Taxes For Retirees

Donald Trump now plans to end Social Security taxes for retirees, stating on his social media platform that seniors should not carry this burden.

franknez.com

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Question: Currently while tips ARE taxed, are employers like restaurants required to track employee tips?

Yes, if they total more than $20 in a month.

Really? Pardon my French but this is perhaps the most asinine example of the caricature Amerika and its Rich-better-than-Poor mentality that I've ever seen.

Judges and Governors aren't required to report bribes even if in excess of $9 million. Wall St. traders get bonuses of up to $4 million IIRC before certain restrictions kick in.

Yet the lady at the cheapest diner lucky to get 75¢ a day in tips must report that. I clicked jonatha's link and find that that means report to her employer (so he can deduct the 75¢ from her paycheck?) She must report the tip to the IRS no matter how small it is. Elites routinely cheat the government out of billions(?) collectively in SocSec they do NOT deduct for their (often undocumented) servants. Bankers earn billions in bonuses every time the financial system almost collapses and needs a government bail-out. But the gummint sure wants to know about the 75¢ tip that waitress got!

Good grief.

If it's actually a bribe it's reportable income. Those wall street traders definitely have to report those bonuses as income.

 

[Swammerdami]

If it's actually a bribe it's reportable income. Those wall street traders definitely have to report those bonuses as income.

Did Clarence Thomas report the gifts and perks he got, totaling over $4 million in value? If not, have tax evasion charges been filed?

Bankers earn billions in bonuses every time the financial system almost collapses and needs a government bail-out. But the gummint sure wants to know about the 75¢ tip that waitress got!

Those wall street traders definitely have to report those bonuses as income.

I never implied differently. I was merely comparing scale. The gummint's insistence that tips averaging 75¢/day must be reported to employer still seems like poor perspective. I'm sure the many $10,000+ evenings entertaining traders at Manhattan strip clubs are ignored by the tax man.

 

[Swammerdami]

Those wall street traders definitely have to report those bonuses as income.

I never implied differently. I was merely comparing scale. The gummint's insistence that tips averaging 75¢/day must be reported to employer still seems like poor perspective. I'm sure the many $10,000+ evenings entertaining traders at Manhattan strip clubs are ignored by the tax man.

Think I'm exaggerating? Google "Amex bill at Manhattan strip club." The first hit shows a $241,000 charge for one evening's entertainment. I think it was one executive entertaining 3 or 4 clients. The other hits were solo adventures: $28k, $20k. One guy was billed $50k and thought he'd spent only a paltry $5k. And that Googling only shows disputed bills for one particular credit card brand.

The IRS knows these entertainers prance around letting gentlemen stuff banknotes in their panties. (I think they throw the $20's on the floor to make room for more $100's) The IRS probably gets its cut when credit card billing is involved, but I suspect many of the dancers stuff a few Benjamins into their secret shoe-box the IRS doesn't know about. More than 75¢ anyway.

The company whose bill was $241,000 may have enjoyed a big write-off, but what about the clients who enjoyed a pleasant, if over-priced perk? Do they report this "bribe" or "kick-back" and pay taxes on it?

And please do NOT complain about "double taxation." Taxation is the rule, not the exception. The stripper spends a Benjamin at the beautician to look pretty for her next shift. The beautician hires an accountant to help her track the (75¢?) tips her assistants get; the accountant pays fees to Wall Street on his stock funds. It's all the same Benjamin floating around in circles.

On a personal note, I really like you @Loren Pechtel ! Politically you're a moderate, just like me. But you are consistently touting right-wing misconceptions ("supply-side", the Ds are more to blame than the Rs for inflation, etc. etc.) You think you're an economics expert, yet haven't even a clue about "Money." I suggested you fight your ignorance by skimming, say  Money supply. Have you done that yet?

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Those wall street traders definitely have to report those bonuses as income.

I never implied differently. I was merely comparing scale. The gummint's insistence that tips averaging 75¢/day must be reported to employer still seems like poor perspective. I'm sure the many $10,000+ evenings entertaining traders at Manhattan strip clubs are ignored by the tax man.

Think I'm exaggerating? Google "Amex bill at Manhattan strip club." The first hit shows a $241,000 charge for one evening's entertainment. I think it was one executive entertaining 3 or 4 clients. The other hits were solo adventures: $28k, $20k. One guy was billed $50k and thought he'd spent only a paltry $5k. And that Googling only shows disputed bills for one particular credit card brand.

The IRS knows these entertainers prance around letting gentlemen stuff banknotes in their panties. (I think they throw the $20's on the floor to make room for more $100's) The IRS probably gets its cut when credit card billing is involved, but I suspect many of the dancers stuff a few Benjamins into their secret shoe-box the IRS doesn't know about. More than 75¢ anyway.

The company whose bill was $241,000 may have enjoyed a big write-off, but what about the clients who enjoyed a pleasant, if over-priced perk? Do they report this "bribe" or "kick-back" and pay taxes on it?

And please do NOT complain about "double taxation." Taxation is the rule, not the exception. The stripper spends a Benjamin at the beautician to look pretty for her next shift. The beautician hires an accountant to help her track the (75¢?) tips her assistants get; the accountant pays fees to Wall Street on his stock funds. It's all the same Benjamin floating around in circles.

On a personal note, I really like you @Loren Pechtel ! Politically you're a moderate, just like me. But you are consistently touting right-wing misconceptions ("supply-side", the Ds are more to blame than the Rs for inflation, etc. etc.) You think you're an economics expert, yet haven't even a clue about "Money." I suggested you fight your ignorance by skimming, say  Money supply. Have you done that yet?

Yeah, stripping is probably the biggest issue with tip reporting. Lots of cash tips and nothing to cross-check (with restaurants it's reasonably predictable the ratio of tip to check size.) I don't think there's all that much that can be done. (But note your $50k was credit card--that's buying expensive alcohol, not tipping dancers.) I doubt there's a good answer that won't hurt their income. It's not like the casinos where everything is done in tokens and the procedures are designed so dealers never have the tokens in their possession.

I generally support old school Republican economics. Not the modern garbage. On social stuff I'm very much a you-be-you, the state should only get involved if a non-consenting individual is involved.

 

[Swammerdami]

Perhaps you guys are tired of all the links to YouTubes I post, but this one is almost Unbelievable!
Mike Lindell shaves off his moustache (for just $2 you can watch!) to go to the DNC in disguise. Once there, he debates a 12 year-old kid ... and LOSES the debate!

 

[Shadowy Man]

Perhaps you guys are tired of all the links to YouTubes I post, but this one is almost Unbelievable!
Mike Lindell shaves off his moustache (for just $2 you can watch!) to go to the DNC in disguise. Once there, he debates a 12 year-old kid ... and LOSES the debate!

That’s not weird at all.

 

[Swammerdami]

It's easy to find White Republicans saying stupid or bigoted things. But shouldn't we give equal time to Blacks and Democrats? Here are some comments by the Black Lieut. Governor of North Carolina, excerpted from a reputable website:

. . . [Mark Keith] Robinson’s conspiratorial, racist, homophobic, antisemitic, and frankly batshit statements aren’t merely extreme: They are uniquely shocking, offensive, vulgar, and prejudiced ... and should be beyond the pale of political discourse.
. . .
Robinson hasn’t just made one or two cringey remarks. Prior to winning public office, he built his name on being an internet troll, especially on Facebook. He has spread lunatic conspiracy theories about Jews, like claiming that Jewish people created Black Panther “to pull the shekels out of your Schvartze [the Yiddish N-word] pockets” and that the Holocaust is being exaggerated for political purposes. “There is a REASON the liberal media fills the airwaves with programs about the NAZI and the ‘6 million Jews’ they murdered,” Robinson wrote in 2018, scare quotes included. He has said the “New World Order” is Satanic, along with the Olympics and Beyonce, while spouting the most vile, despicable things about gay people this side of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Reread that quote until you're as shocked as I! This Black Democrat seems as despicable as a White Republican like MTG.

I hope the Trumplickers at this Board will be happy I did their homework for them. Now they can say "same-same."


Uuuur... Wait a moment. Now I see that, while Black, Mark Keith Robinson is a Republican. And not just any Republican but a hard-core card-carrying MAGAturd.

Donald Trump enthusiastically supports Robinson, even calling him “better than Martin Luther King.” (Robinson is the first Black lieutenant governor in the state’s history.) ... And he has views about Black people that are, well, incredibly racist. Here’s Robinson calling out Black activists and defending the concept of “white pride”:



And here’s Robinson using the term “monkey” to refer to four Black men:


This is who Trump calls “better than Martin Luther King.”

Robinson’s comments on queer people also cross every line of decency. Indeed, he seems pathologically obsessed with us. To choose one of hundreds of examples, Robinson has this to say to those who say they were “born this way” and that sexual orientation is a trait:

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[ZiprHead]

Someone, please. Get this woman some help. Seriously.

 

[ZiprHead]

Jesus, they're not even trying to hide it anymore.

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Congress, next time please pass disaster measures that reject all funding to any state where nobody voted for the measure.