Tips are not included in wages that are garnished in Michigan unless they are reported as your income. If they are reported, than the up to 25 percent garnishment comes out of that.
wages and tips
Tips are not exempt from garnishment if they are included in a person's hourly pay. A garnishment can take up to 2/3 of a person's income in some states and over 3/4 in others.
You answer professionally by answering honestly. "Yes, tips are included", or "No, tips are not included." But even better than waiting to be asked, you specify up front and in writing, itemized, that the amount given is included for tips. That way there is no need for questions, and you can avoid a very embarrassing situation where you have inflated the estimate by including tips without saying so, leaving the sleazy impression that if tips are added to the inflated amount, that is the purchaser's business.
their is no full tip credit
q-tips
Almost all service workers get tips because they work for low wages and you give them a little extra if they do a good job.
On 2009 W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) forms, 'local wages, tips, etc.' are entered by your employer on line 18. The phrase 'Local wages, tips, etc.' refers to income from which local or city tax was withheld. The amount that was withheld is listed on line 19 'Local income tax'. In some states, certain cities withhold local taxes from wages/salaries/tips in addition to federal and state income tax withholding. For example, New York City withholds a local income tax.
There are several types of wages, including hourly wages (based on hours worked), salary wages (fixed amount per period), commission wages (based on sales), and piece-rate wages (based on units produced). Bonuses and tips are also forms of wage compensation.
Tips are counted as part of your income. You must report your tips so that it will be included into your gross amount. If you do not claim cash tips the IRS has the right to charge you back up pay to the IRS. It is considered FRAUD to not account for your cash tips. So your friend is correct.
direct wages\salaries would be wages received from primary form of employment such as your paycheck. indirect wages\salaries would be from 1099 or contract employment or tips and things like that, any other form of wage of anykind.
On the IRS Form 1040, it's called "wages, salary and tips".
Waiters do make minimum wage as their base salary. Tips are additional wages they make.