Tronc Services
Dealing with cash tips, service charges, and Tronc has become a real concern for many restaurant and hospitality operators now that tipping practices are back in the spotlight.
Customers typically pay a 12.5% gratuity on their bills to thank the employees who served them, but those employees are frequently disappointed by the reality. In addition, according to various reports, the number of employers who unjustly reap the benefits show no signs of slowing down.
So, what’s the answer? How can the hospitality, leisure, and service industries distribute tips in a fair and transparent manner? Many businesses choose to distribute gratuities by including them in their regular payroll. However, there is a catch: the tip money is frequently taxed as salary, meaning the employees receive it net of income tax and NI contributions (NICs).
In an industry that can be hard to work in, and often experiences high turnover, this will usually make a job that pays in this way far less appealing to top hospitality talent. So, enter troncs and tronc services, an alternative option that benefits everyone.
Tronc???
A tronc is a special pay arrangement that is used to distribute customer tips, gratuities, and voluntary service charges to employees. The term comes from the French phrase “tronc des pauvres,” or “collection box,” which was used to collect donations for the poor in the 1920s.
What is a Troncmaster?
A troncmaster is the person in charge of coordinating the distribution of tips, gratuities, and voluntary service charges given by customers to employees.
The troncmaster must not be the proprietor, a partner, or another company official to ensure that tips are not subject to NICs. Furthermore, employers must not decide or participate in tip distribution. The total cost of employer and employee NICs is over 25%, so this represents a significant savings that can be passed on to employees’ take-home pay.
Why Tronc Makes Sense
The benefits of troncmaster services are straightforward:
- Staff can own up to 100 percent of their hard-earned tips and have a say in how they are distributed between front and back of house personnel.
- The arrangement can be truly self-contained, free of employer interference and influence, and operated for the benefit of employees.
- Formal rules governing the allocation and distribution of service charges are available to employees and customers, so that everyone understands where every penny tipped is really going. Surveys have shown that sometimes customers withhold gratuities because they are not sure that they are really going to the staff that served them.
Independent Troncmasters
There is a growing demand for troncmasters who are not employees of the company and thus cannot be influenced by their boss. Businesses value someone who is up to date on tronc rules and acts fairly and ethically – without bias, partiality, or personal friendships or motivations getting in the way. This is critical when providing tronc services.
As independent troncmasters, we assist our hospitality clients in forming trusting relationships with their employees and customers. Our troncs are completely transparent, comply with all HMRC requirements, provide NIC exemption, and save employers and employees money. Each position is unique and designed to help our clients recruit, motivate, and incentivize their employees.
If you prefer to appoint an in-house troncmaster we can help there too, ensuring that a fair and compliant system is set in place. Either way, we have the tronc advice you need.
FAQs
What is tronc scheme?
Tronc Scheme, also known as tronc or tronc system, is the distribution of tips and discretionary service charges from customers to service industry employees.
How is tronc calculated?
To find the tronc value, simply multiply the tronc points by the hours (daily or weekly) the employee has worked. The tronc point is the value assigned to the staff member.
Are tronc payments taxable?
Tronc payments are exempt from NICs (National Insurance contributions). If you’re curious about more information, talk to us today!
Is tronc contractual?
No, it is not. There’s “…no contractual right to receive payments of any amount out of the tronc…” according to Gov.UK.
Who should be a Troncmaster?
The Troncmaster can be anyone (except the business partner, employer, or company official). This is also the individual who distributes the tips and/or service charges to employees in the service industry (i.e. hotel workers, waiters, waitresses, etc.).