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Most Brazilian restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, listed as “taxa de serviço” or “serviço.” The charge is optional and cannot be imposed on you. Under Lei 13.419 of March 13, 2017, that money belongs to the staff, so paying it is the tip.
On a R$ 200 (about US$39, checked Oct 2026) dinner bill, the 10% adds R$ 20 (about US$4, checked Oct 2026). Conversions on this page use R$ 5.08 per US$1, the rate used on money in Brazil.
Tipping in Brazil is simpler than in the US. There is no 18 to 20% expectation and no tip line to fill in on the card machine in most places. The service charge does the work at restaurants, and elsewhere tipping is small and optional. This guide covers what the 10% is, when you can refuse it, where the money goes, the live music cover charge, and what to do with drivers, guides and hotel staff.
What the 10% is
The service charge is a line the restaurant adds to your bill. It is normally 10%, and the waiter usually mentions it or it appears printed on the bill before the total.
Lei 13.419 counts two things as a tip (“gorjeta”):
- Money you give an employee of your own accord
- Any amount the business charges as service or an extra, under any name
So the 10% on the bill and a note you leave on the table are both tips in law.
When the waiter brings the card machine, the total usually already includes the 10%. Check the bill line before you pay so you do not add a second tip by mistake.
Can you refuse it
Yes. The charge “possui natureza facultativa e não pode ser imposta ao consumidor” (is optional and cannot be imposed on the consumer). You are free to refuse it or to suggest a different percentage.
The restaurant must state the percentage in advance, on the menu or at the entrance. The charge is justified only with table service, and not on self-service or buffet orders where you serve yourself.
To have it removed, ask before you pay: “Pode tirar o serviço, por favor?” (Can you take off the service charge, please?). If service was fine, pay it. It goes to the team, and most Brazilians pay it as a matter of course.
Can it be more than 10%
Yes. Lei 13.419 sets how tips are shared among staff. It sets no rate that a customer must pay.
A 13% charge is becoming common in São Paulo restaurants, and some of the city’s top restaurants charge 15%. Read the bill line before you pay, and check the menu for the percentage.
Where the money goes
Lei 13.419 changed article 457 of the CLT, Brazil’s labor code. It took effect 60 days after publication on March 14, 2017. It covers bars, restaurants, hotels, motels and similar businesses.
| Rule in Lei 13.419 | What it means |
|---|---|
| The tip is not employer revenue (§ 4) | It must be shared among workers |
| Sharing rules come from a collective agreement (§ 4, § 5) | Without one, a workers’ assembly sets them |
| Up to 20% may be kept by firms on the differentiated federal tax regime (§ 6, I) | Only with a collective agreement, to cover labor charges |
| Up to 33% may be kept by other firms (§ 6, II) | Same conditions; the rest goes in full to workers |
| Payslips and work cards must show the tip (§ 6, III; § 8) | Staff can see what they receive |
| Cash handed to an employee follows the collective agreement (§ 7) | It may be pooled with other tips |
If a business charged the tip for more than 12 months and then stops, the 12-month average is added to staff salaries, unless a collective agreement says otherwise (§ 9).
If you want a particular waiter to benefit, hand them cash directly. It may still be pooled under the collective agreement.
The couvert artístico
Some bars and restaurants add a cover charge for live music, the “couvert artístico.” It is allowed only when there is a live performance and you were told about it and its price in advance, usually at the entrance or on the menu.
If nobody told you and there was no live music, ask for it to be taken off. Do not confuse it with the plain “couvert,” a plate of bread, olives or small snacks brought to the table. That is charged only if you eat it, so send it back if you do not want it.
Bars, cafés and delivery
At a bar counter or a café where you order standing up, there is usually no service charge and no tip expected. At a botequim (neighborhood bar) with table service, the 10% applies as in a restaurant.
Delivery apps let you add a tip for the rider in the app. It is optional.
Taxis, guides and hotels
Lei 13.419 covers businesses that charge a tip. It sets no amount for taxi and app drivers, tour guides, boat crews or hotel porters. Tipping in those cases is your choice, and the amounts are small.
- Taxi and app drivers. Brazilians do not usually tip. Rounding up a taxi fare is a common courtesy. Ride-hail apps let you add a tip after the trip.
- Tour guides and boat crews. A tip at the end of a good day trip is appreciated, especially for guides who earn per tour. Hand it to the guide directly.
- Hotel porters and housekeeping. A small tip of a few reais for carrying bags is a kind gesture. Leaving something for housekeeping on a long stay is appreciated.
Community-run tours in quilombola, Indigenous and fishing communities often set their own fee. Pay the fee the community asks, pay it to the person or association running the tour, and ask before you photograph anyone. Buying crafts or a meal from the community supports it directly.
Quick rules
- Expect a 10% line on restaurant bills. Pay it if service was fine.
- Ask for it to be removed if service was poor. It is optional.
- Check the percentage. Some São Paulo restaurants charge 13% or 15%.
- Question a service charge at a self-service counter. It is not justified there.
- Pay the couvert artístico only if there was live music and you were told in advance.
- Leave nothing extra unless you want to. The 10% is the tip.
For cards, cash and Pix at the table, read money in Brazil. For overcharging at the card machine, see common scams in Brazil. The phrases on Portuguese phrases that help off route cover asking for the bill.
Questions
- Is the 10% service charge mandatory in Brazil?
- No. The service charge is optional and cannot be imposed on you. You can ask for it to be removed.
- Do I need to tip on top of the 10%?
- No. The 10% already counts as the tip under Lei 13.419/2017, which says the money belongs to the staff. Leave extra only if you want to.
- Can a restaurant charge more than 10%?
- Yes. The law sets no rate for customers. A 13% charge is becoming common in São Paulo, and some top restaurants charge 15%, so check the menu and the bill.
- What is the couvert artístico?
- A cover charge for live music. It is allowed only when there is a live performance and you were told about it and its price in advance.
- Who gets the service charge money?
- The staff. Lei 13.419 says it is not the employer's revenue. With a collective agreement, the employer may keep up to 20% or 33%, depending on its tax regime, to cover labor charges.
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