Not really, our conceptions of what a tip is for are probably the same, but our IRS is the biggest, meanest, most evil collection agency on earth. I'm surprised they don't have their own branch of the pentagon yet.
You know what's really disgusting? The high percentage of the billions collected that goes just to the agency that collects it and counts it. (I'd quote it here but I forgot )
Consider yourelf very very lucky then. In the UK, the Inland Revenue is so inefficient, proportionally it costs 3 times more then the US (IRS) but generates half the revenue.
All tax collection systems suck... hopefully a move away from Cash to a computer based system will allow a redesign :-)
-Edit- On topic, if a Tip is added to the bill I refuse to pay it, ragardless of the service I have received.
If I receive good service and no tip is requested then I will leave a Tip.
