Frequently asked
Why doesn't my deduction meter match my total tips?
The meter counts qualified tips only: voluntary cash/card tips and tip-share received, net of tip-outs you paid, earned in an IRS-listed tipped occupation. Mandatory service charges and digital-asset tips are excluded (the app marks each excluded dollar with a "why"). The meter also applies the $25,000 per-return cap and the income phase-out ($100 per $1,000 of MAGI over $150,000 single / $300,000 joint).
Does "No Tax on Tips" mean my tips are completely tax-free?
No — and TipTotal will never pretend otherwise. It's a federal income tax deduction for tax years 2025–2028. Social Security and Medicare taxes still apply to tips (they also keep earning you Social Security credit), your paycheck withholding doesn't change, and most states still tax tips. The benefit typically shows up as a larger refund when you file.
Where is my data? Do I need an account?
No account exists. Everything lives on your iPhone, with optional backup snapshots in your own iCloud Drive (visible in the Files app). See the privacy policy — the short version is "we collect nothing."
How do backups and restore work?
TipTotal snapshots your database daily (keeping the last 10) to iCloud Drive when available, on-device otherwise. A fresh install automatically restores the newest snapshot. To move phones manually: Settings → Export backup file on the old phone, then Settings → Restore from backup file on the new one, and reopen the app when asked.
Can I import my history from another app?
Yes — export a CSV from your old tracker (ServerLife, Checkout, Just The Tips, or any spreadsheet) and use Settings → Import CSV. TipTotal auto-maps common columns and lets you adjust the mapping with a preview; duplicates are skipped and imported rows are honestly marked as entered-after-the-fact in your records.
What does the Tax Pack cost, and what's free?
Free forever: unlimited logging, the deduction meter, occupation checker, daily tip record, monthly employer statements, reminders, import, export, and backups. The Tax Pack is a one-time purchase (no subscription) that adds the Schedule 1-A worksheet with your numbers and the year-end proof pack PDF. Restore it anytime via Settings → Restore purchases.
My employer report says "due by the 10th" — what is that?
Federal law (IRC §6053(a)) requires reporting tips of $20 or more in a month, per employer, to that employer by the 10th of the following month. TipTotal totals each month, drafts a signable statement, and reminds you on the 8th. Reporting also makes those tips count toward the deduction.
I found a number that looks wrong.
Please email — seriously. Every rule in TipTotal is published with its source (IRC §224, TD 10044, Notice 2025-69, Pub 531), and a correctness report gets priority over everything else.
Contact
Email: support@tiptotal.app
Include your app version (Settings → About) for the fastest help. No logs or personal data are ever needed — we couldn't read them anyway.