Short answer: create a tip page in an app such as TipIns, add your bank routing number and account number, then print or show your QR code. Customers scan it with their phone camera and tip in US dollars by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with no app on their side.
Tipping is part of how service work is paid in the United States. Federal law allows a tipped minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, on the assumption that tips make up the difference, though many states set a higher figure. The custom has not weakened. What has changed is the wallet: a customer who pays for everything by phone has nothing for the jar, the valet or the housekeeper.
What people tip in the US
| Who | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant servers | 15 to 20% of the bill before tax |
| Bartenders | $1 to $2 per drink |
| Hairdressers and barbers | 15 to 20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2 to $5 per night |
| Counter service and cafes | Optional: $1 or so |
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 US dollars 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 US
- 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 bank routing number and account number. Tips are paid out in US dollars.
- 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 US
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Download and monthly fee | Free |
| Platform fee | 10% of each tip |
| Card processing | 2.9% plus $0.30 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
Many US workers hand out a personal Venmo or Cash App handle. That works only if the customer has the same app, it puts work income into a personal account that those services expect to be used for personal payments, and it cannot split a tip between a team. A QR code that takes any card avoids all three problems. See Venmo for tips: limits and alternatives.
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 US
Tips are taxable income and must be reported, whether they arrive in cash or by card. A federal deduction for qualified tips applies for the 2025 to 2028 tax years, within limits; it changes what you owe, not what you report. Employees normally report tips to their employer each month. Your TipIns activity feed lists every tip with its date and amount, and you can export it.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Check with the IRS or a qualified adviser about your own situation.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in the US?
Tipping is part of how service work is paid in the United States. Federal law allows a tipped minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, on the assumption that tips make up the difference, though many states set a higher figure.
How much does QR code tipping cost in the US?
TipIns has no monthly fee. Each tip carries a 10% platform fee plus card processing of 2.9% plus $0.30 for domestic cards. By default the customer covers these, so you receive the full tip.
What bank details do I need in the US?
You need your bank routing number and account number. Tips are paid out in US dollars.
Are tips taxable in the US?
Tips are taxable income and must be reported, whether they arrive in cash or by card. A federal deduction for qualified tips applies for the 2025 to 2028 tax years, within limits; it changes what you owe, not what you report. Employees normally report tips to their employer each month. Your TipIns activity feed lists every tip with its date and amount, and you can export it.
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.