Emmanuel Macron announced this Monday morning in Lyon the tax exemption for tips by credit card when visiting a gastronomic fair.
A measure made necessary according to the President of the Republic in particular
"because we saw it at the end of the crisis, our compatriots use less and less liquid".
See also Hotels, restaurants: tips paid by credit card soon to be tax-exempt
This decline in the use of cash in transactions since the start of the pandemic limits the amount of tips.
According to a Panorabanques study, the French spend on average 543 euros per month with their credit card but withdraw only 73 euros monthly in cash.
Which means less cash in the pocket for a small tip.
The French less generous
"The vast majority of tips are paid in cash,"
explains Jean Terlon, vice-president of the catering branch of the UMIH, the main union in the sector which has been demanding this tax exemption for several years.
We observe that tips have fallen by 50% since the start of the health crisis. With the generalization of the blue card, of contactless, it has been several years that customers have been giving less tips ”.
L
'
former restaurateur expects that tips by credit card "
fit in manners
." This could take the form of a line on the bill, in addition to the price of the drinks, which would be filled in by the customer himself. The whole would then be settled by card. Bercy has already discussed with professionals on the operation of the future device, before the announcements of Emmanuel Macron.
According to a CSA study published in July for the fintech Lyf, which offers a tip service by scanning a restaurant owner's QR code, 35% of French people say that the lack of cash on them is the main obstacle to tipping.
68% of French people say they are in favor of the dematerialized tip on the grounds that it allows them to give the sum of their choice.
This is not possible, for example, with a ticket that can only be given totally or not at all.
In total, 77% of French people say they leave tips for an average amount of 2.8 euros, 85% in bars and restaurants.
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The fact remains that tipping is not a systematic habit in France unlike in Anglo-Saxon countries where the service is systematically billed.
“The French have a less generous conception of tips,”
notes Jean Terlon.
To give, they must feel special attention, impeccable service ”.