While 30% of Canadians say they support a strong tip culture, recognizing it’s a key part of income for service industry workers in Canada, the vast majority appear to have extreme tip fatigue – both with expectations around gratuity amounts and with the extent of services that now prompt for a gratuity. This is despite nearly one in three Canadians (31%) that have directly worked in a gratuity-based job as some point. A survey by H&R Block’s also reveals that while most Canadians know that tips are considered taxable income, 47% assume people are not actually declaring them on their taxes.

“It’s important to emphasize that tips are considered taxable income, by law, even if your employer does not include any tip amount on your T4 slip. But the good news is there are many ways to make your tips work in your favour when it comes to filing your taxes,” said Yannick Lemay, Tax Expert at H&R Block Canada.
“Not only are there numerous deductions, benefits and credits you can leverage, there are tax-friendly ways to use your tips to invest in your professional growth and well-being and bolster your savings.”
Canadians begrudge gratuity prompts from card payments machine: A colossal 94% of Canadians say they’re annoyed by card payment machines prompting options for services that tips or gratuities weren’t previously expected. However, more than half (57%) of Canadians feel awkward skipping the tap prompt so tend to leave one anyway, said the survey.
While most Canadians know that tips are considered taxable income – many assume they’re not declared for tax filing purposes: Overall, 84% of Canadians recognize that tips must be declared for tax purposes (whether they are cash, credit or via other payment methods). However, 47% assume that the recipients aren’t declaring their tips when filing their taxes. Conversely, 16% didn’t realize that they must be declared as taxable income. Nearly half of Canadians (45%) say they try to give cash where possible, in thinking that the person then doesn’t have to worry about paying tax on it, explained H&R Block.
Other key findings from the survey:
- Canadians are divided on whether they believe the individual or the employer pockets gratuities: While around half of Canadians believe the individual person they’re tipping receives the money, the other half believe it goes into the employer’s pocket.
- More than half of Canadians identify as ‘frugal tippers’: Overall, 53% of Canadians consider themselves as frugal tippers, typically opting for the lower tip option and/or only tipping for exceptional service. This compares to 39% who say they’re generous tippers and tend to opt for the higher tip amount or tip most services.
- Many Canadians feel that tipping lets employers off the hook to pay employees’ full wage: Overall, 88% feel that tipping culture has become a means for employers to pay their staff less. Furthermore, 91% believe that Canada should have less of a tipping and gratuity culture as employers should cover their employees’ full wages.
- Canadians believe 9% is the tipping sweet spot: When asked what Canadians believe the tipping or gratuity amount should be for various services, the overall average equated to 9%, which is well below typical gratuity prompt amounts. However, not all services are perceived as equal when it comes to the average amount considered appropriate by industry:
- Restaurant servers: 13 %
- Bartenders: 10 %
- Hair stylists and barbers: 10 %
- Food delivery drivers: 9 %
- Taxi or rideshare drivers: 8 %
- Spa and salon technicians: 8 %
- Hotel housekeeping staff: 7 %
- Valet parking attendants: 7 %
- Tour guides: 7 %

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