Short answer: create a tip page in an app such as TipIns, add your sort code and account number, then print or show your QR code. Customers scan it with their phone camera and tip in pounds sterling by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with no app on their side.
Tipping in the UK is lighter than in North America. Restaurants often add a discretionary service charge of 10 to 12.5%, taxi fares are rounded up, and nobody tips per drink at the bar. Most payments are contactless, so the coins that used to end up in the jar on the counter no longer exist.
What people tip in the UK
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10 to 12.5%, often already added as a service charge |
| Pubs and bars | No tip per drink; "and one for yourself" on a round |
| Hairdressers and barbers | About 10%, or round up |
| Taxis | Round up to the nearest pound |
| Cafes and takeaways | Optional: the change, when there is any |
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 pounds sterling 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 the UK
- 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 sort code and account number. Tips are paid out in pounds sterling.
- 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 the UK
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Download and monthly fee | Free |
| Platform fee | 10% of each tip |
| Card processing | 1.5% plus 20p 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
A QR code that pays the worker or the team directly keeps tips outside the till, which is the simplest way for a small venue to be sure every tip reaches staff in full. For a pooled team, a group code records exactly how each tip was divided.
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 the UK
Since 1 October 2024 the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 has required employers to pass on all tips, gratuities and service charges to workers in full, with no deductions other than tax, and to share them fairly. Tips paid straight to you by a customer are yours, and it is your responsibility to declare them. Tips are subject to income tax.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with HMRC or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in the UK?
Tipping in the UK is lighter than in North America. Restaurants often add a discretionary service charge of 10 to 12.5%, taxi fares are rounded up, and nobody tips per drink at the bar.
How much does QR code tipping cost in the UK?
TipIns has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus card processing of 1.5% plus 20p for domestic cards. By default the customer covers these, so you receive the full tip.
What bank details do I need in the UK?
You need your sort code and account number. Tips are paid out in pounds sterling.
Are tips taxable in the UK?
Since 1 October 2024 the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 has required employers to pass on all tips, gratuities and service charges to workers in full, with no deductions other than tax, and to share them fairly. Tips paid straight to you by a customer are yours, and it is your responsibility to declare them. Tips are subject to income tax.
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.