Charging meals to your room

If you charge a meal to your room because you want to get it comped you can't write in the tip too, can you? I've always assumed that you couldn't.

You can but usually they keep track of it separately and charge the tip to your card at checkout.

Quote: wudged

You can but usually they keep track of it separately and charge the tip to your card at checkout.

Exactly. That's part of why I tip in cash or chips, even a TITO voucher. The server's wages (W2) shows all tips by credit card or room chit, but the cash doesn't necessarily get reported. (It's up to the server to acknowledge cash tips on their 1040).

Quote: beachbumbabs

Exactly. That's part of why I tip in cash or chips, even a TITO voucher. The server's wages (W2) shows all tips by credit card or room chit, but the cash doesn't necessarily get reported. (It's up to the server to acknowledge cash tips on their 1040).

Many people in Las Vegas get offered a "tip compliance" from the IRS. If a bartender/server subscribe to the program the IRS uses a flat percentage tip amount against their sales. I know a bartender that gets charged at about 8% of sales as the tip amount. In return the employees will not be audited for tips by the IRS. It is a boon for most of the employees because people generally tip more than the 8%. It is especially good for the bartenders that have slot machines in the bar because lots of people will tip extra when they win and that is not at all reflected in the sales. I know bartenders that make over $100k with reported income in the $30k range.

Sometimes they WILL include the tips charged to the room when they comp it. YMMV

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Sometimes they WILL include the tips charged to the room when they comp it. YMMV

DJ, It was actually a post you made on 11-2-10 in General Discussion wherein you said that tips could be comped to the room that inspired my inquiry. I've gotten comped meals many times but never heard of writing in a tip amount on the check/receipt to get it reimbursed when comped later. I'll ask about this in the future. Problem is, I usually ask for the food comps as I go. That way there's no surprises when I settle my account and "hope" to get my meals included. Guess I can't have it both ways.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Sometimes they WILL include the tips charged to the room when they comp it. YMMV

I don't doubt you're correct. The majority of my room experience in LV has been with CET properties, and there, it's policy, at least for me as Diamond. They'll write off hundreds in room credit (including the gift shop), once over 1000, beyond my reward credits balance, but they separate out the tip money from that (as well as comping the rooms, as many as 3 per night on my account). Like I said in another thread, they're very, very generous to me, except in this area.

When I waited table in the 70's and 80's, we used the 8% as a minimum report, but I don't think it was mandatory back then, just a guideline to stay off the audit list. It's a reasonable amount, I think.

Quote: DRich

I know bartenders that make over $100k with reported income in the $30k range.

That's only because you're tipping her $50k a year.