Emily Austin, a broadcaster and host for DAZN, has expressed her opinion that tips should not be taxed. She urged support for the "Big Beautiful Bill" to allow hardworking individuals to retain their earnings. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
"No tax on tips," said Austin. "Let the hardworking keep their hard-earned money. Push the Big Beautiful Bill!"
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the taxation of tips has been a contentious issue in the United States, particularly affecting service industry workers who rely heavily on gratuities for their income. Under current IRS regulations, employees must report any tips received as taxable income. This includes cash tips, tips from credit card payments, and those distributed through tip pools.
A 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that 16% of Americans have earned money through an online gig platform. Among these gig workers, 58% reported that this income was essential or important for meeting basic needs. This underscores the financial reliance many have on gig work and highlights the impact of tax policies on their livelihoods.
Many service industry workers earn a significant portion of their income from tips. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, the median hourly wage for waiters and waitresses, including tips, was $14.00. In some states, however, tipped employees can receive a base pay as low as $2.13 per hour, with tips expected to cover the gap to reach the federal minimum wage. Because of this reliance on tip income, changes to tipping policies can substantially impact workers' total earnings.
Austin is known for her work with DAZN, where she covers boxing events and interviews athletes. She has established a presence in sports media and is recognized for her on-air commentary and social media engagement.