Tip suggestions on payment terminals in Quebec: what restaurants must do

Quebec changed the rules for tip suggestions on payment terminals. Under Bill 72, a consumer protection law in force since May 7, 2025, when a business suggests tip percentages, those percentages must be calculated on the price before taxes. For restaurants, cafés and bars in Quebec, that means checking how your terminals and point-of-sale system are set up. This is general information, not legal advice.

What does Bill 72 say about tipping?

Bill 72 is Quebec's law to protect consumers against abusive commercial practices. One of its rules concerns tips: if a merchant suggests tip amounts as percentages, for example on a payment terminal, those percentages must be calculated on the price before GST and QST, not on the after-tax total.

Example: on a $100 food bill, a suggested 15 percent tip should be $15, calculated on the $100, not on the total after tax.

Why does the before-tax rule matter?

Quebec's combined sales taxes add almost 15 percent to a bill. When a terminal calculates tips on the after-tax total, every suggested tip is slightly larger than the customer probably intends. The rule brings terminal suggestions in line with the common tipping custom in Canada, which is to tip on the pre-tax amount.

Who does the Quebec tipping rule apply to?

It applies to merchants in Quebec that suggest tips as percentages, including restaurants, bars, cafés, food trucks and other businesses that use payment terminals with tip prompts. If your terminal or point-of-sale system shows suggested tip percentages to customers in Quebec, the rule is relevant to you.

How do you set up your payment terminal to comply?

1. Contact your payment provider and ask whether tip suggestions are calculated before or after tax.
2. Update your settings or software so suggested percentages use the pre-tax amount.
3. Test a transaction to check the suggested amounts are correct.
4. Check every device, including handheld terminals, counter terminals, kiosks and online ordering.
5. Keep a custom tip option available, so customers can enter their own amount easily.

Will calculating tips before tax reduce staff tips?

Slightly, on average, because the suggested amounts are based on a smaller number. In practice, many customers already tipped on the pre-tax amount, and others choose a custom amount anyway. Explain the change to your team so it does not feel like a surprise, and remember that good service remains the biggest factor in how much people tip.

How should you explain tipping changes to staff?

Topic	What to say
Why it changed	It is a provincial consumer protection rule
What changed	Suggested percentages are now based on the pre-tax subtotal
What stays the same	Customers can still tip any amount, including more
What helps	Friendly, attentive service, as always

How should tip options be shown to customers?

Keep tip prompts clear and fair. Show the suggested percentages based on the pre-tax amount, make the custom amount and "no tip" options easy to find, and avoid screens that pressure customers into a choice. Some guidance on Bill 72 also covers how tip options are presented, so check with your payment provider and the official consumer protection guidance that your screens meet the current rules. A respectful tip screen reflects well on your business.

Does the rule apply to online orders and takeout?

If your online ordering, kiosk or takeout terminal suggests tip percentages to customers in Quebec, check that those suggestions are also calculated on the pre-tax amount. Many restaurants use several systems at once, such as a counter terminal, handheld devices and an online ordering platform, and each one needs to be checked separately.

What other Quebec rules affect restaurant bills?

• Sales tax: bills show 5 percent GST and 9.975 percent QST.
• French language: menus, receipts and customer-facing materials must be available in French.
• Pricing: Bill 72 also includes other consumer protection rules, so check the official guidance for anything relevant to how you advertise prices.

Does the before-tax tipping rule apply outside Quebec?

The Bill 72 rule is a Quebec law. Elsewhere in Canada, many customers still tip on the pre-tax amount by custom, but terminals are not always required to calculate it that way. Some businesses outside Quebec choose to calculate tips before tax anyway, because customers notice and appreciate it.

Mosey is built around diners rating the places they ate at and what they ordered. Clear, fair pricing at the end of a meal is part of the experience people remember.

More guides for your business:

• How to get more customers for a Montreal restaurant
• Winter in Montreal for restaurants: surviving the slow months
• Do restaurant menus have to be in French in Quebec? A guide for owners

More in the Canadian guides for food businesses.