Hi guys

Compliments of the season to all.

I am assisting a church to get their affairs in order.

They have been operating for 10 years and have not formally registered their church although they have an income tax number, and an exemption l letter from SARS.
I have added the new client on my efiling profile and awaiting the 48 hours before I can begin submitting their returns, going back to 2010!

I have no experience with churches so need some advice please.
Must a church be registered with CIPC and the department of social services?
I am assuming once the above is done can I apply for a section 18A (donations)?
This church would also like to register for VAT. Reason being they are about to begin construction on a new site and they would like to claim back any input vat they may incur during the construction phase. (One of their members who was handling their affairs made enquiries with SARS and apparently they were told that they could indeed register, member has subsequently died so no idea who advised him).

I am doing this pro bono so would prefer not spend hours trying to figure out what needs to be done.

Please if any one has any experience in this regard or advise, I would really appreciate it.

Thanking you in advance.
Kavesh