🧾Bill Split Calculator

The Service Charge vs. Tip Debate

In India, many restaurants add a 'Service Charge' (typically 5-10%) to the bill. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued guidelines stating that service charges are not mandatory and cannot be added automatically. However, if it is added and you pay it, a further tip is not expected. If no service charge is present, a tip of 7-10% is customary for good service.

Department of Consumer Affairs (India)

Decoding GST on Restaurant Bills

Restaurant bills in India attract GST, which varies: 5% for most restaurants (without Input Tax Credit) and 18% for those in hotels with high room rates. This tax is split into CGST and SGST. When splitting a bill, use the final 'Grand Total' which includes these taxes to ensure an accurate division. Our calculator helps you manage these multi-layered totals effortlessly.

GST Council of India

Group Dining and Shared Plates

Indian dining is inherently communal, with many dishes shared in the center of the table. Splitting the bill evenly is the standard norm among friends and colleagues. For business lunches, the senior-most person or the inviter usually pays the whole bill. If you're 'going Dutch,' our tool makes it easy to divide the communal cost among all participants.

Ministry of Tourism (Incredible India)

Is it mandatory to pay the service charge in India?

According to the latest government guidelines, the service charge is voluntary. A consumer can request the restaurant to remove the service charge from the bill if they are unsatisfied with the service. If the restaurant refuses, consumers can lodge a complaint via the National Consumer Helpline. Knowing this helps you decide how much to actually split among your group members.

How do I split the bill if we used a discount app like Zomato or Dineout?

Many Indians use apps to get discounts (e.g., 20% off). These discounts usually apply to the food bill, not the taxes or service charges. When splitting, ensure you take the final discounted amount shown on the bill. If one person paid through the app to get the discount, the others should pay their share based on that final reduced total.

What is the tipping etiquette for home delivery in India?

For food delivery services like Swiggy or Zomato, tipping is done through the app or in cash. A tip of ₹20 to ₹50 is generally appreciated and considered standard. During extreme weather or late-night deliveries, increasing this is common. When ordering as a group to one house, our calculator can help you add the delivery fee and tip to the total before splitting the cost.