As part of our commitment to supporting the growth and operational capabilities of Mastodon, we have established a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity in the United States aimed at facilitating our efforts, including being able to receive tax-deductible U.S. donations.
  • Aatube
    0•5 months ago

    We’ve always been worried that developing Free and Open Source Software would not be recognized as a charitable cause by the German tax system, so we were glad when the tax office originally approved our non-profit status in 2021. But now we have received a notice from the same tax office that our non-profit status has been withdrawn. This came with no advance warning or explanation. Earlier this year we went through a successful tax audit, which in fact resulted in some favourable adjustments as we’ve been paying too much tax. Our tax advisor immediately submitted an appeal to the decision, but so far, we have no new information.

    • FlaxEnglish
      0•5 months ago

      Pretty silly for something literally used by the European Union and other European Governments. Am I right in thinking the German Government is one of those?

      • @[email protected]English
        0•5 months ago

        I don’t know the answer but they pointed this out further in the press release:

        However, it’s also important for us that Mastodon is one of the few, if not the only social media platform that operates out of the EU, and we would like to keep it that way.

        I’d assume that this is for a reason, too. If it were advantageous to run your company out of the EU people would probably do so sometimes.

      • @[email protected]English
        0•5 months ago

        I was wondering the same thing. Maybe in the USA it is easier due to our relaxed (almost non-existent) business oversight from the government? Not sure.

        • aasatru
          0•5 months ago

          Also it’s a bigger market of lawyers, so probably easier and cheaper to get high quality legal help against bullshit like this.

  • JoYoEnglish
    0•5 months ago

    I know they were already in the process of the 501c but that’s really gotta come as a bummer.

    They’ll lose a lot of donors in the EU if they can’t keep that non-profit status.

    • Bilb!English
      0•5 months ago

      It is.

      The people in charge of maintaining Mastodon in particular though need to establish some kind of legal entity though. And that needs legal recognition somewhere.

      • @[email protected]English
        0•5 months ago

        Why? Bitcoin does not and that is the point. If there is a throat to chock some will chock it or take it over.

  • @[email protected]English
    0•5 months ago

    Insanely bizarre, Germany has historically been pro-open source and the EU was just saying that the Fediverse is here to stay.