VAT vs Tip
 

Is Vat considered the tip on Paris cafe bills? If it doesn't say service incluise (sp), is a tip still expected?

VAT = Value Added Tax. Equivalent to Sales Tax in the US.

Service is included on ALL bills in France, whether it says so or not. You can leave a bit more if you like

Hi T,

VAT is the sales tax imposed by the gov't.

"service" is a 15% fee charged by the owner from which the staff is paid.

A "tip" is something that you give the waiter for particularly good service.

Do not give 15-20%.

((I))

VAT is sales tax. Yes - european pay 15 to 17% sales tax on most things (as we in the us complain about 3 or 4%).

Service charge will be listed as not included on the bottom of the menu - otherwise it is.

Tip is separate from service charge - but used much less frquently than in US - and smaller amounts - since staff are paid a living wage verus $2 per hour i the US.

The VAT can be over 18% but for food it's less. It depends on whether it's being take~away or eating at the restaurant.

I think it's quite a bit less though.

Blackduff

<b>VAT (value-added tax, known in France as TVA), is a tax on the consumption of goods and services, and is paid by the consumer at a standard rate of 19.6% (33% for luxury goods, 5.5% for food). If you are a traveler who is normally resident in a country which is not a member of the European Union, you may deduct Value Added Tax (VAT) from the total of the purchases you made in France.</b>

http://www.paris-delices.com/paris-u...ax-or-the-tva/

Blackduff