Dave Smith wrote:

> The worst part is that income tax is based on sales, and he would have been
> assessed $150 taxable income that he never got.


This is one more reason I would wave my magic wand and get rid of the
tipping system.


Much as I hate the tipping system, the story of your nephew getting
stiffed isn't a huge argument against it. The problem in your story is
that management was a wimp. In my version, when the host complained
about the food, the manager tells him that he's very sorry that he was
disappointed. When the host complains louder, the manager tells him
that he's very sorry and perhaps the host would prefer not to return to
the restaurant. When the host refuses to pay for the meal, the manager
calls the police and perhaps takes the jerk to court if necessary. But
that's my version, not what happened.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't income tax based on getting a 7% tip
on sales? So if a server gets stiffed one time, and tipped 15-20% of
sales the rest of the time, income tax still works out. (It's been ages
since I worked as a server, and there was no income tax on tips at that
time. When I read about the new tax, it was for the U.S.)


--Lia