Need Help German Restaurant bill ..Right now!
 

Hello, dumb question...
I am in Germany/Austria for the next 10 days and I am confused by the items at the end of the restaurant bills.
At the end of tonights Bill reads:
Gesamt: 30.30
Netto. 20% 2,83
Mwst. 20% 0,57
Netto. 10% 24,45
Mwst. 10% 2,45

30.30

So what is this trying to tell me and how much money would you leave on the table to pay the bill.

Thanks!

Tim

Your total bill is 30.30€, with up to a 3€ tip optional.

Mwst. = GST (VAT)

Michael is right about the amount you have to pay and the maximum tip.

Apart from that, this appears strange to me. My guess is that currently you are not in Germany. MwSt is the abbreaviation for "Mehrwertsteuer", which is VAT. In Germany there is a uniform VAT of 16 % on restaurant consumption - never 20 %, never 10 %.

"Gesamt" means "Total" which in turn indicates the amount due. Service is generally included, but it is customary to tip with about a 10% maximum.

Enjoy the rest of your evening and visit!
hsv

The details simply explain how much value-added tax ("Mehrwertsteuer") you've paid. Part of the bill has 20% tax (2.83 euros + 0.57 euros tax = 3.40 euros), and the rest has 10% tax (24.45 euros + 2.45 euros tax = 26.90 euros). The details of the tax aren't really of any interest to you as it's included in the prices on the menu. In Germany a service charge is included so you do not need to leave a large tip. You pay the tip when you pay the waiter or waitress - in this case you might say you want to pay 32 euros and you will be charged that much. You do not leave the tip on the table like you do in some other European countries.

Tipping is not done so lavishly in Germany as it appears to be in the States.

Usually the 'tip' is no more than a rounding-up of the final figure you are presented with.

As Geoff Hamer said, this is done at the time of payment by simply nominating the amount you are paying. So, with a bill for 33.50 you might simply say "fünfunddreissig" and it will be understood that you are paying that exact amount, which means a tip of 1.50. Even if you want to reward an individual waitperson it is difficult to do this, as they have an obligation to contribute such tips to the kitty for later allocation amongst the staff. The best you can do in these circumstances is to mention to the head waiter or manager your satisfaction with the service received, naming the individual involved.

Harzer

It must be an Austrian bill. There the standard rate of VAT (Mehrwertsteur or MWSt) is 20%, with a reduced rate of 10% for food, books, plants and art etc. In this case 2.83 euro was charged VAT at 20% (0.57 euro - maybe drinks) and the rest at 10%. This is simply done for VAT analysis purpose, as every price on the menu etc already includes tax. As others have said, it's the total (Gesamt) that interests you, at 30.30 euro. Rounding up a bill to the nearest euro or 2 euro (as in this case) is quite common and appreciated, but there's no obligation to do so. When paying with a credit card, you can add a small tip manually on the slip (as you do in N America) or, more commonly, give an extra euro or two directly to the waiting staff.

Thank you all so much. Yes I crossed over the border from Fussen into Austria as I am staying in Reutte. Should have mentioned that.

OK so all of that is Tax and I should not care about it. Great to know.

As usual great help found here.

Bye for now

Tim