VAT and taxation are complex subject areas. ACAT’s resources will help a church obtain any VAT reliefs that may be available. Our resources cover tax and trading matters. For taxes relating to employment, please see The Church as an Employer.
ACAT news – updates on various topics
Risk Management and Health & Safety Management
Looking at the governance and the management of a church/charity.
New to being a church treasurer?
It’s all a bit overwhelming and we’re aware that there’s a lot of information on the site, some of which you won’t need straight away.
Here you can find all the information you need to start out as a treasurer, and you can progress to other topics when you are ready.
Thinking about a building project? Need more money to fund the mission of the Church?
A church building has a significant impact on the mission and life of the church and it is important your church is best equipped to make use of all the options available.
ACAT’s resources will help you plan and undertake a building project as well as identify possible internal and external funding sources.
What is the difference between an independent examination and an audit?
Does your church have to have its accounts independently examined or audited? Who can be an independent examiner? How do I prepare for an independent examination?
ACAT’s resources can help you answer these questions – and more besides.
Budgeting and planning form an essential part of good stewardship.
Stewardship includes making responsible and conscientious decisions and asks questions about objectives, priorities and the resources required to achieve them. Luke 14: 28-30 is an excellent summary of this:
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish’.”
ACAT’s resources will help you think about all the issues associated with budgeting and planning.
Churches must adhere to specific reporting and accounting rules and regulations.
The Charity Commission created the charities SORP – which stands for Statement of Recommended Practice – to provide guidance on how charities should prepare their annual accounts and report on their finances. It is a statement of required practice and all charities have to follow the guidelines.
Church denominations have adopted the SORP as its standard basis for annual financial reporting, so that they can provide the same information to both government and the wider church.
Treasurers and accountants usually have responsibility for ensuring that reports are accurate and understandable and these resources will help to improve your technical competence, as well as produce reports that are accessible to all.
Churches invariably employ staff – but this comes with challenges.
It’s essential you get the basics right.
ACAT’s resources will help churches get started with employment policies and processes, do payroll and get their pension obligations right.
Should your church be registered as a charity?
What are the registration thresholds? How do I register with the Charity Commission and what are my legal responsibilities for reporting?
ACAT’s resources will ensure you can deal with these questions in the most appropriate way.
Churches receive income from a variety of sources in a variety of ways.
In short, it’s imperative that churches adopt the most tax efficient approach to their finances as possible to maximise their income.
Gift Aid and GASDS [Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme] are complex subject areas. ACAT’s resources will help a church maximise its Gift Aid and GASDS reclaims.
Trustees and members of church committees have vitally important role to play in their church’s mission and ministry.
They provide the vision for the church but also ensure the church operates within legal rules and regulations.
Trustees have key duties as well as legal responsibility for a church’s management and administration. ACAT’s resources will help to ensure that these duties are carried out competently and effectively.
