Short answer: create a tip page in an app such as TipIns, add your IBAN, then print or show your QR code. Customers scan it with their phone camera and tip in euros by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with no app on their side.
In Austria a tip is called Trinkgeld, and leaving one is a firm habit: 5 to 10% in restaurants and coffee houses, given by naming the total you want to pay or by saying "Stimmt so". Vienna's coffee house waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers and hotel staff all count on it. Card payment has spread quickly, and a terminal keyed with the exact amount leaves no room for the round-up.
What people tip in Austria
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants and coffee houses | 5 to 10%, or round up |
| Bars | Round up |
| Taxis | About 10% |
| Hairdressers | 5 to 10% |
| Hotel porters | €1 to €2 per bag |
How QR code tipping works
- You show or print your QR code.
- The customer points their phone camera at it. A secure web page opens. They need no app and no account.
- They choose an amount in euros and pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card.
- The tip appears in your balance straight away and is paid to your bank account.
Setting up in Austria
- Create your account. Download TipIns and choose a username. You are asked for your legal name, date of birth and address, because payments are processed by Stripe and anyone receiving card payments must be identified.
- Add your bank account. Enter your IBAN. Tips are paid out in euros.
- Print your code. Export a design in business card, A5, A4 or A3 size, or show the code on your phone.
What it costs in Austria
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Download and monthly fee | Free |
| Platform fee | 10% of each tip |
| Card processing | 1.5% plus €0.25 per tip for domestic cards. Cards issued abroad can cost more. |
| Who pays the fees | By default the customer covers them on top of the tip, so you receive the full amount. If they opt out, the fees come out of the tip. |
| Weekly payout to your bank | Free, once your balance reaches the minimum |
| Instant payout | 2% plus €0.25 |
Compared with what people use now
The spoken round-up does not survive a contactless payment. A QR code on the bill folder or the table gives the Trinkgeld somewhere to go, and guests from abroad can pay with their own card.
Tips for a whole team
If tips are shared, create a group. The venue shows one QR code and each tip is divided between members, equally or by percentages the owner sets. With active shifts switched on, a tip is shared only between the people working when it arrives. Each person is paid to their own bank account, and every member can see how each tip was split. The methods are compared in how to split tips between employees fairly.
Tax and the law in Austria
Tips given voluntarily by customers to employees are generally free of income tax in Austria, and social insurance on tips is handled through flat rates. Self-employed people treat tips as business income. Ask a tax adviser how the rules apply to you.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with the Finanzamt or a tax adviser or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Austria?
In Austria a tip is called Trinkgeld, and leaving one is a firm habit: 5 to 10% in restaurants and coffee houses, given by naming the total you want to pay or by saying "Stimmt so". Vienna's coffee house waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers and hotel staff all count on it.
How much does QR code tipping cost in Austria?
TipIns has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus card processing of 1.5% plus €0.25 for domestic cards. By default the customer covers these, so you receive the full tip.
What bank details do I need in Austria?
You need your IBAN. Tips are paid out in euros.
Are tips taxable in Austria?
Tips given voluntarily by customers to employees are generally free of income tax in Austria, and social insurance on tips is handled through flat rates. Self-employed people treat tips as business income. Ask a tax adviser how the rules apply to you.
Do customers need an app to tip by QR code?
No. They scan the code with their phone camera and pay on a secure web page with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card.