Tipped Workers Support Policy Changes for Greater Financial Stability

A new poll reveals strong support among tipped employees for policy changes aimed at enhancing their financial security, including discussions around tax exemptions and access to financial support programs.

Tipped workers overwhelmingly support eliminating federal taxes on tips. With 85% aware of the discussions and 96% believing it would improve their financial situation, the message is clear: this policy change could significantly benefit those who rely on tips.

Beyond Tax Exemptions: A Holistic Approach to Financial Wellness

Extra cash in hand can make a real difference. Tipped workers reveal how they'd use savings from tax-exempt tips, focusing on both present needs and future goals:

48% of tipped workers would save toward a specific goal

42% would pay down debt

42% would cover essential expenses such as bills

Which of the following would most help your current financial situation?

Weighted Base: 1012

Apart from the option you indicated would most help your current financial situation, which of the following would also help your current financial situation?

Weighted Base: 1012

Which of the following would help your current financial situation?

Weighted Base: 1012

If you had access to your hourly pay when you earned it (i.e., at the end of each shift versus waiting for a scheduled pay day), which of the following statements would be true for you?

If I had access to my hourly pay when I earned it ...

During the 2024 presidential campaign, there were conversations about eliminating federal tax on tips. How familiar are you with this campaign proposal?

The 2024 presidential campaign proposal to eliminate federal tax on tips would mean that tip money earned would be exempt from federal income taxes. How much do you support or oppose the campaign proposal to eliminate federal tax on tips?

If this proposal to eliminate federal tax on tips was passed, how would your financial situation change?

If the proposal to eliminate federal tax on tips was passed I would ...

A quarter circle in orange positioned in the bottom left corner of a green background.

How confident are you that the new administration will follow through and implement their campaign proposal to eliminate federal tax on tips?

Which of the following best describes your view on how the U.S. economy will perform over the next 12 months?

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of DailyPay from January 15-21, 2025 among 1,012 U.S. adults ages 18 and older who are employed in the service industry and earn tips for their job, among whom 334 are millennial (ages 29-44) tipped hourly workers.

The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval.

For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 4.2 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact [email protected].

The DailyPay Solution

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