Standard Form of Accounts

All church annual accounts should be audited or independently examined by an auditor or independent examiner, (in some cases with appropriate qualifications) appointed by the church council (not the treasurer).

In England and Wales all Methodist churches, circuits and districts with a gross annual income of over £100,000 per annum need to register with the Charity Commission. See Charity Registration

There are two standard forms of accounts that can be used.

• Receipts and Payments - this should be used for those churches, circuits or districts when gross annual income is less than £250k. Gross income is the total receipts recorded in the statement of accounts from all sources, excluding the receipt of any endowment, loans and proceeds from the sale of investments or fixed assets
• Accrual Based Accounts - this should be used for those churches, circuits or districts whose gross annual income is greater than £250k

Forms

For Churches

Receipts and Payments

Standard Form of Accounts 2024 (Normal)
(For churches whose gross annual income is less than £250k)

Standard Form of Accounts 2024 - (short form)
(This can be used where there are no restricted or endowment fund, also where the criteria in paragraph one of the form above is met)

Accrual Based Accounts
(For churches whose gross annual income is greater than £250k)

For Circuits

Receipts and Payments

Standard Form of Accounts for Circuit 2024
(For Circuits with a gross income (excluding capital receipts) of up to £250k during the financial year).

Accrual Based Accounts
(For circuits with a gross income (excluding capital receipts) greater than £250k during the financial year)

Summary of Cash & Investments
(For both Receipts & Payments and Accruals based Accounts)

For Districts

Receipts and Payments

Standard Form of Accounts 2024

Accrual Based Accounts

The following additional forms & documents may also be useful when preparing accounts

(Please select & download the forms you require)

Sample Letter of Engagement for an independent examiner

Reserves Policy Guidelines

Related Parties

Submission of SFA

We do not provide the deadline date on the website as we do not determine this.

Churches must submit their returns to the 'meeting of the church trustees' who then submit the returns to the Circuit meeting.

The Circuit meetings then submit the returns to the Districts for submission at the District Policy Committee.

It is up to these committees to determine the deadlines for submission of their accounts.

Advice and Help

If you require help in completing the forms, you should contact your Circuit or District Treasurer who should be able to offer advice.

You can also contact the Reporting Team in the Finance Department for help and advice. Tel: 020 7467 3760