Hi, My name is Michael Morphis and I'm a Yoga and Meditation teacher. I've been offering some Fee/Donation based classes through Insight Timer, which has an app in the App Store. I was told by Insight Timer that Apple levies a 30% tax on all Donations because the App is hosted in the App Store. Is this correct? If it is, it seems so very wrong. Apple is literally the richest company in the world, and while I understand they are that rich and successful because they know how run a business, it seems like there are times and places where doing the right thing should come before making more profit. We are out here trying to offer something healing and wholesome, most of us just scraping by, and because what we're offering winds up being free to a vast majority of participants, who are perhaps unable to pay, losing 30% of what small donations we do get is a major hit. We're trying to help people have happier and healthier lives. Our main intention is to be helpful and positive, not to be selfish profiteers. That being said, many of us are trying to earn a living with this work as well. It's so generous of people to be giving anything at all, and I think these donors would be shocked, disappointed and downright angry to know that Apple is getting so much of their Donations. Perhaps I don't have the whole story here, or Insight Timer is engaged in some interesting bookkeeping practices, but when I called Apple they told me this was the place to start getting answers, so here I am, initially wanting to confirm whether or not this is true. If it is true, I am going to begin a campaign to change this policy on Donations. Apple, you're an amazing company- I own a 2 Mac Minis, a Mac Air M1, two iPads, 2 iPencils etc. Please, make your billions from your incredible products, in-app purchases, subscriptions, and paid app downloads etc., but please, with Donations, give the little guys, out here trying to help and do the world some good, a break, and let the Donations flow without this really brutal tax.
Does Apple really take a 30% fee on Donations?
Sorry, typo correction- I'm offering FREE/Donation based classes, not Fee/Donation
Hi Michael,
I am a paid subscriber at Insight Timer and frequently donate to teachers. Insight Timer is very transparent on their fees so I am aware of Apple’s 30% fee prior to Insight Timer’s cut before you get what is left. In my mind, it’s the same even if I went to see my teacher in person. A percentage of my money goes to intermediaries before it hits the hand of the artist I’m supporting. As a teacher, you can place a link to your personal or business website. This leads your fans and/or supporters to you personally. In my case, I support my teachers by donating through Insight Timer, especially for their live events on IT. I accept part of my donation goes to Apple and Insight Timer, both for providing the platforms that bring us together. I further support my teacher by purchasing music and merchandise from their website that I found on their teacher page on Insight Timer. I’m sure there are expenses paid before part of that purchase hits the hand of my teacher. Hang in there Michael. You are helping a lot of people on Insight Timer and us subscribers on Insight Timer are trying to help you teachers to continue by donating on IT and supporting your work. Take care, my friend and I’ll look up your teacher page after my morning meditation. ❤️🙏🏻
Bobby
Hi Bobby, Thanks for your response. It's funny with Insight in that we as teachers don't see what you, as subscribers see. Of course I should have, and will, now create a user account just for that purpose but it's good to know that they are letting folks know about the 30% fee and it is true that people can always go to my site and donate directly if they choose, although any suggestion to that affect is strictly forbidden by our agreement as teachers. My point was more about Apple taxing teachers. Even the US Gov't has a non-for profit option for people and organizations that are doing work for the greater good. There is and should be some kind of screening/vetting process and maybe it's not even totally free, but perhaps 5% or so? Also, many of us are not marketing or commoditizing ourselves on so many different levels, and perhaps we need to be doing that as well. Again, the post was more to the issue of maybe, just maybe, Apple exercising some restraint in their profit model. Thanks again for your and pretty much as I expected. not a word yet from anyone at Apple. How about it Tim?