- Sources: issue, discussion
- Summary: The tracking issue states Google has rejected AnkiDroid updates since 2026-08-28 and has set removal from Google Play worldwide, except India and Russia, for 2026-09-11, on the stated ground that the app collects donations for an organization that is not tax exempt. Google's payments policy carves tax exempt donations out of Play billing, and the issue states that AnkiDroid's fiscal host, Open Source Collective, holds an IRS determination letter for 501(c)(6) status which was supplied to Google, with no explanation given for why that is insufficient. The maintainers state they are removing donation links from the Play build under protest, that the app reports more than 10 million installs, and that the Open Collective is its sole funding source.
- Why it matters: Any Android app funded through a fiscal host now has a worked example of a 501(c)(6) determination letter failing to satisfy the Play donations carve-out, with a dated removal deadline attached.
- Follow-up: Track whether the 2026-09-11 removal happens, and whether Google states why a 501(c)(6) determination does not meet the policy.
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