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 Italy the bill often carries a "coperto", a cover charge per person, or a "servizio" line. Neither is a tip to your waiter. The mancia itself is optional: Italians round up or leave a euro or two. Visitors are less sure what to do and often want to leave more, and since retailers have been required to accept cards, fewer people have coins to leave.
What people tip in Italy
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Round up, or a few euros; check for coperto and servizio |
| Coffee at the bar | Small coins |
| Taxis | Round up |
| Tour guides | €5 to €10 per person |
| 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 Italy
- 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 Italy
| 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 coperto goes to the restaurant. A QR code on the table or on a card left with the bill tells a guest plainly that this payment goes to the staff.
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 Italy
Tips are income. Since 2023 a reduced flat-rate tax has been available on tips received by employees in the hospitality sector, within limits. Ask your employer or a tax adviser (commercialista) whether it applies to you.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with the Agenzia delle Entrate or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Italy?
In Italy the bill often carries a "coperto", a cover charge per person, or a "servizio" line. Neither is a tip to your waiter.
How much does QR code tipping cost in Italy?
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 Italy?
You need your IBAN. Tips are paid out in euros.
Are tips taxable in Italy?
Tips are income. Since 2023 a reduced flat-rate tax has been available on tips received by employees in the hospitality sector, within limits. Ask your employer or a tax adviser (commercialista) whether it applies 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.