--- title: Fractured Atlas Celebrates IRS Withdrawal of Burdensome Donor Documentation Proposal description: Fractured Atlas Celebrates IRS Withdrawal of Burdensome Donor Documentation Proposal image: https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/hubfs/books-document-education-357514.jpg --- - [Visit our Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Fractured.Atlas) - [Check out our latest tweets](https://twitter.com/fracturedatlas) - [Join us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/fractured-atlas/) - [Check out our Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/fractured.atlas/) - [Check out our Tumblr](https://fracturedatlas.tumblr.com/) - [Blog](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/) - [Donate](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/contribute/donate) - [Sign In](https://identity.fracturedatlas.org/login?origin=www&redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fracturedatlas.org/site/home) [Fractured Atlas](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/) - [What We Do](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/what-we-do) - [Who We Are](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/who-we-are) - [Our Projects](https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/get-in-touch) [Become A Member](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/become-a-member) - [What We Do](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/what-we-do) - [Who We Are](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/who-we-are) - [Our Projects](https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/get-in-touch) [Become A Member](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/become-a-member) - [Blog](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/) - [Donate](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/contribute/donate) - [Sign In](https://identity.fracturedatlas.org/login?origin=www&redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fracturedatlas.org/site/home) ## Inciter Art ### a writing, co-learning, and resource sharing space for an arts ecosystem with big ideas and bigger questions. [«  View All Posts](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org) ![Fractured Atlas Celebrates IRS Withdrawal of Burdensome Donor Documentation Proposal](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/hubfs/books-document-education-357514.jpg) ![Blog Feature](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/298890/blog-files/blog--cards-feature.png) [Subscribe](http://eepurl.com/be_Uej) ![Fractured Atlas](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/hubfs/Updated%20Logos/Logo%20copy%20for%20Landing%20Page.png "Fractured Atlas") Post by Fractured Atlas By [Fractured Atlas](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/author/fractured-atlas) on January 8th, 2016 Print/Save as PDF # Fractured Atlas Celebrates IRS Withdrawal of Burdensome Donor Documentation Proposal [Big Ideas](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/topic/big-ideas) | [Advocacy](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/topic/advocacy) - Share: - - - - [mailto:?body=https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/fractured-atlas-celebrates-irs-withdrawal-of-burdensome-donor-documentation-proposal-b10020d72c1f](mailto:?body=https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/fractured-atlas-celebrates-irs-withdrawal-of-burdensome-donor-documentation-proposal-b10020d72c1f) #### *by Courtney Duffy, Robert W. Deutsch Arts & Technology Policy Fellow at* [*Fractured Atlas*](https://fracturedatlas.org/) *Courtney Duffy, our* [*Robert W. Deutsch*](http://www.rwdfoundation.org/) *Arts & Technology Policy Fellow, has an update on the results of our advocacy in opposition to proposed changes at the IRS that would have dramatically complicated the way nonprofits accept gifts from donors. * Last month, I published a [post](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/blog/2015/12/11/weigh-in-against-proposed-irs-changes-to-donor-documentation-that-would-significantly-burden-the-nonprofit-sector/) to this blog to share some good and bad news: The bad news was a series of proposals by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to change the way nonprofits document and regulate donations from donors. The changes, which would have compelled nonprofits to collect some donors’ Social Security numbers (SSN) or taxpayer identification numbers (TIN), would have had a profoundly negative impact on Fractured Atlas members, as well as the arts and nonprofit communities at large. The IRS currently requires nonprofits to substantiate gifts of $250 or more by providing written documentation to donors that state the amount of the gift. Most nonprofits already have a sufficient system in place that gets this done. While donors would have the choice of whether or not to share their SSNs or TINs, many would be discouraged from giving more than $250 — or at all — and nonprofits would be burdened with the responsibility of making costly technological and security updates to properly protect such sensitive donor data. Fractured Atlas shared a [call to action](https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/blog/2015/12/11/weigh-in-against-proposed-irs-changes-to-donor-documentation-that-would-significantly-burden-the-nonprofit-sector/) last month and submitted an official comment to the IRS detailing how these changes would negatively impact our organization and members. We took a stand alongside many of our peers from the Performing Arts Alliance (PAA), a national coalition of arts services organizations. While the good news then was that we had an opportunity to unite as a community and make our voices heard, the good news today is that our advocacy paid off. As of yesterday, January 8, the IRS has withdrawn its notice of proposed rulemaking. You can read the statement in [full](https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/08/2016-189/substantiation-requirement-for-certain-contributions-withdrawal), and here’s an excerpt: ***“The Treasury Department and the IRS received a substantial number of public comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. Many of these public comments questioned the need for donee reporting, and many comments expressed significant concerns about donee organizations collecting and maintaining taxpayer identification numbers for purposes of the specific-use information return.”*** In other words, the nonprofit community spoke up and our voices were heard. Many thanks to those of you who united with us on this issue — it made all the difference. [More posts by Fractured Atlas](https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/author/fractured-atlas) ### About Fractured Atlas Fiscal sponsor, fundraising platform, educational resource, advice from a staff of experienced artists & creatives. 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