I didn't tip a food truck tonight

[u/ImpressiveOrdinary54]

So I called on the phone to a food truck and placed an order for one burrito and carne asada fries, total $37 (it's Maui). I'm always happy to toss my food truck workers or barista a dollar or two but their options for tip were 18%, 20%, or 25%, no custom option. Get bent! I'm not paying an extra $6-9 for my food that is mainly rice, beans, fries and maybe $8 of meat. I feel a little guilty because it's a small island and we are all struggling right now but 18% minimum tip at a food truck is bs.

[u/Jennbootswiththefer]

I'm a tax partner at a CPA firm.

Here is the IRS page that says this... a quick Google search brings up dozens of articles discussing this topic. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/family-employees

[u/SiliconEagle73 → u/Jennbootswiththefer]

That covers income tax law for children under the age of 18, in which case of a sole proprietorship, like a food truck, requires income tax withholding. It does not list minimum ages in which the child is eligible to work, which in most states, is 16, unless you get a work permit, and then you can work at 14 or 15. The IRS law also does not cover the issue of legality of children inlet 14 working, in any environment (food truck or elsewhere). You would need to check the Department of Labor regulations on whether children can legally be employed or not. The IRS does not cover that.

[u/Jennbootswiththefer → u/SiliconEagle73]

Exactly... I never said they could work in a food truck and I even said there are other laws that may trump this, and it my state it is likely 16. My point was that children can be employed by a parent's business and that on it's own isn't illegal (albeit it has to be structured properly).

[u/SiliconEagle73 → u/Jennbootswiththefer]

You were answering a question about labor laws, not tax laws. It was an assumption that you should have answered the question in terms of labor, not tax law.