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 Hungarian forint by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with no app on their side.
In Hungary a tip, borravaló, of 10 to 15% is customary in restaurants, for hairdressers and for taxi drivers. Many restaurants add a service charge (szervizdíj) of 10 to 15% to the bill instead, so check before adding more. The tip is not left on the table: you tell the waiter the total when you pay.
What people tip in Hungary
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10 to 15%, unless a service charge is on the bill |
| Bars | Round up |
| Taxis | About 10% |
| Hairdressers | About 10% |
| Thermal bath and spa attendants | A few hundred forint |
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 Hungarian forint 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 Hungary
- 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 Hungarian forint.
- 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 Hungary
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Download and monthly fee | Free |
| Platform fee | 10% of each tip |
| Card processing | 1.5% plus 85 Ft 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 a small fixed amount |
Compared with what people use now
A service charge goes through the restaurant. A personal QR code tells the guest that this payment goes to the person who served them, and a tourist can pay it with a foreign 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 Hungary
Tips are generally taxable income in Hungary, with special rules for service charges and for tips in hospitality. Ask an accountant how they apply to you.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Hungary?
In Hungary a tip, borravaló, of 10 to 15% is customary in restaurants, for hairdressers and for taxi drivers. Many restaurants add a service charge (szervizdíj) of 10 to 15% to the bill instead, so check before adding more.
How much does QR code tipping cost in Hungary?
TipIns has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus card processing of 1.5% plus 85 Ft for domestic cards. By default the customer covers these, so you receive the full tip.
What bank details do I need in Hungary?
You need your IBAN. Tips are paid out in Hungarian forint.
Are tips taxable in Hungary?
Tips are generally taxable income in Hungary, with special rules for service charges and for tips in hospitality. Ask an accountant how they 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.