How TabTangle chooses each share

TabTangle starts from the actual items on the bill, not from a rough equal split. That keeps the result grounded in what people really had.

1. Item-first allocation

Every dish or charge is assigned to the people who consumed it. If an item is solo, one person carries it. If it was shared, the cost is divided by the share units selected for that item.

2. Uneven shares stay possible

A share count of 2 means that person carried twice the weight of a person with a share count of 1 for that item. This makes it easier to represent “I only had a bite” or “I drank most of the bottle” without manual side calculations.

3. Fees follow either fairness or table convention

• Proportion to items: tax, tip, and service follow how much each person consumed.
• Split evenly: every participant takes the same fee share, regardless of item total.

The same logic applies to discounts, which can be returned proportionally or evenly depending on the group rule.

4. Settlement is simplified

After each person’s total share is known, TabTangle compares it with what they already paid. Creditors and debtors are matched into a short settlement plan so the group sees a few clear transfers instead of multiple overlapping reimbursements.

What TabTangle is not trying to do

It is not a full personal-finance system or a long-term ledger tonight. It is a calm browser tool for one immediate social problem: settling a messy check fairly and fast.