The Screen Is Going To Ask You A Couple Questions: Analyzing No Tax On Tips and How it Will Change the Hospitality and Service Industries

The Coronavirus Pandemic, point-of-sale technology, and financial instability has pushed demand for tips to all-time highs as tipped workers struggle to make ends meet. In response, Democrats and Republicans have proposed the “No Tax On Tips” bill, which would create a limitless deduction for tip income, to provide tipped workers with financial relief. With the bill targeting such a unique type of income, the potential results of this bill are just as polarizing. This paper looks at the origin of America’s tipping culture, how tips impacted labor and tax legislation, how the bill’s tip deduction would expose holes in labor and tax law, and how the bill would drastically impact the economy and taxpayer behavior. While “No Tax On Tips” could provide some financial relief, it is more likely the bill would cause issues regarding tax avoidance and worker classification.