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 Polish zloty by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with no app on their side.
In Poland a tip, the napiwek, of about 10% is usual in restaurants with table service, and optional elsewhere. One local habit catches visitors out: saying "dziękuję" (thank you) as you hand over cash tells the waiter to keep the change. Poland is one of the most card-friendly countries in Europe, and BLIK and contactless payments have replaced cash in most cities.
What people tip in Poland
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | About 10% |
| Cafes and bars | Round up |
| Taxis | Round up |
| Hairdressers | 5 to 10% |
| Tour guides | 10 to 20 zł per person |
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 Polish zloty 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 Poland
- 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 Polish zloty.
- 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 Poland
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Download and monthly fee | Free |
| Platform fee | 10% of each tip |
| Card processing | 1.5% plus 1.00 zł 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
BLIK transfers need a Polish bank account and the recipient's phone number. A QR code that takes any card lets a guest tip without exchanging numbers, and it works for visitors too.
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 Poland
Tips are generally taxable income in Poland, and how they are taxed depends on whether they reach you through your employer or directly from customers. Ask an accountant or the tax office about your case.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with the tax office (urząd skarbowy) or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in Poland?
In Poland a tip, the napiwek, of about 10% is usual in restaurants with table service, and optional elsewhere. One local habit catches visitors out: saying "dziękuję" (thank you) as you hand over cash tells the waiter to keep the change.
How much does QR code tipping cost in Poland?
TipIns has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus card processing of 1.5% plus 1.00 zł for domestic cards. By default the customer covers these, so you receive the full tip.
What bank details do I need in Poland?
You need your IBAN. Tips are paid out in Polish zloty.
Are tips taxable in Poland?
Tips are generally taxable income in Poland, and how they are taxed depends on whether they reach you through your employer or directly from customers. Ask an accountant or the tax office about your case.
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.