Splitting tax and tip by item
How to split tax and tip by item so everyone pays their fair share. The simple formula, a worked $73.92 example, and how to handle rounding pennies.
Splitting items is easy. Tax and tip are where people get lost. The fair way is to give each person the same share of tax and tip as their share of the food.
The formula
Person owes = their food + share × (tax + tip − discount)
Worked example
Subtotal $60.00, tax $4.92, tip $9.00. Jordan's food is $24.33, which is 40.6% of the food, so Jordan's tax and tip is 40.6% × $13.92 = $5.65, and Jordan owes $29.98.
| Person | Ordered | Food | Tax + tip | Owes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya | Burger + ⅓ fries | $18.83 | $4.37 | $23.20 |
| Jordan | Salmon + ⅓ fries | $24.33 | $5.65 | $29.98 |
| Sam | Pasta + ⅓ fries | $16.83 | $3.91 | $20.74 |
| Total | $60.00 | $13.92 | $73.92 |
The penny problem
Rounding each share can leave the total a cent or two off. The fix is to round each share to the cent and give any leftover pennies to the payer, so the shares always add up to the bill exactly. TipSplit does this automatically.
Shared items
Split shared plates first, then apply the formula. If one person ate twice as much, give them a 2:1 weight.
FAQ
How do you split tax by item?
Give each person the same share of tax as their share of the food subtotal.
Why don't my split amounts add up to the bill?
Rounding each share can leave a cent or two over or under. Assign the leftover pennies to the payer so the totals match exactly.
How do I split a shared appetizer?
Divide it among only the people who shared it, before you apply tax and tip.