What is the Bill Split?
Splitting a bill sounds trivial until GST, service charge and a tip are involved — and someone ordered two drinks. This calculator handles the arithmetic, including extra shares for people who should pay more.
Since the 22 September 2025 GST reform, restaurant bills in India carry a flat 5% GST (without input tax credit) almost everywhere. The 18% rate now applies only to dining in a hotel whose room tariff exceeds ₹7,500 a night. Service charge is not mandatory — the CCPA has ruled it cannot be added automatically, and you may ask for it to be removed.
Formula & worked example
Per person = Total / (people + extra shares)
Worked example: a ₹3,200 bill with 5% GST (₹160) and a 10% tip (₹320) totals ₹3,680. Split four ways that is ₹920 each. If one person takes a double share, the divisor becomes 5 and each single share drops to ₹736.
How to use this bill split calculator
- Enter the pre-tax bill amount.
- Set GST — 5% for restaurants, 18% only for dining in a hotel charging over ₹7,500 a night for rooms.
- Add a tip percentage if you are tipping.
- Use extra shares when someone should pay 2× — enter 1 extra share for one such person.
Smart tips
- Service charge is not legally mandatory in India. You can ask for it to be removed and tip separately if you wish.
- Tip on the pre-tax amount, not the total including GST — that is the standard convention.
- For groups where orders differ a lot, splitting by item is fairer than by head. Extra shares are a quick middle ground.
- Round up to the nearest ₹10 per person to avoid awkward change, and give the remainder as tip.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip in India?
10% of the pre-tax bill is standard at restaurants where no service charge is levied. Tipping is discretionary, not obligatory.
Is service charge mandatory in India?
No. The Central Consumer Protection Authority has ruled that restaurants cannot add it automatically, and customers may ask for its removal.
Should I tip on the amount before or after GST?
Before GST. Tipping on the tax-inclusive total means you are tipping on government tax.
How do I split a bill when orders differ a lot?
Split by item for accuracy, or use extra shares — give heavier orderers 2 shares instead of 1 — for a quick approximation.
Want the theory behind the numbers? Read our group expense guides on the Money Blog.
Written by Gurjeet Singh, Sharpen Solutions. Last reviewed 15 Oct 2026. Sources: GST Council — 56th meeting: 5% merit rate, 18% standard rate, 40% special rate, in force 22 Sep 2025. How we check these numbers.