Paid $18.44 for a matcha this morning The tip screen came up I'm happy to pay for great service But I wondered: How much of this tip actually gets into the right hands? I asked the barista "Oh, all the workers on the shift get their share of tips paid out right when they clock out!" I was horrified. 100% of the proceeds right to the workers. No tax withholdings. No VAT payments. And no local sales tax paid to the government. How is the most important stakeholder, the government, supposed to continue adding value to our lives when they don't even get paid for it? I tipped $0 and immediately reported the shop to the local tax office.