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 Belgium service is included in the price, and tipping is modest: people round up or leave a euro or two for good service in a restaurant or cafe. Belgians pay by card and by phone for almost everything, so the coins that used to be left on the saucer are rarely in anyone's pocket.
What people tip in Belgium
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Round up, or 5 to 10% for very good service |
| Cafes and bars | Small change |
| Taxis | Round up |
| Hairdressers | A euro or two |
| Hotel porters | €1 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 Belgium
- 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 Belgium
| 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
Payment requests through a banking app work between Belgian accounts only. A QR code that accepts any card also works for the visitors who fill the terraces in Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp.
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 Belgium
Tips are generally treated as income in Belgium. If your employer collects and shares them, they are handled through payroll. If customers pay you directly, ask the tax office or an accountant how to declare them.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with FPS Finance or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Belgium?
In Belgium service is included in the price, and tipping is modest: people round up or leave a euro or two for good service in a restaurant or cafe. Belgians pay by card and by phone for almost everything, so the coins that used to be left on the saucer are rarely in anyone's pocket.
How much does QR code tipping cost in Belgium?
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 Belgium?
You need your IBAN. Tips are paid out in euros.
Are tips taxable in Belgium?
Tips are generally treated as income in Belgium. If your employer collects and shares them, they are handled through payroll. If customers pay you directly, ask the tax office or an accountant how to declare them.
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.