The Enterprise Investment Scheme offers two-way benefits to applicable small businesses and investors. Those who do invest in these companies can reduce their tax liability by up to £300,000.
What is the Enterprise Investment Scheme?
The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is a UK Government investment programme designed to help small companies that are considered risky to attract investors. Investors that buy shares in these risky - but often innovative - companies will receive tax relief, making an investment more lucrative.
Investors can reduce their tax liability by up to £300,000 for investing under the EIS scheme. Moreover, if the investor decides to sell the shares in the future, any profits made on these shares will not be subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The shares must be owned for at least three years and can be purchased through the EIS fund or via the business directly.
Both the small business and investors must abide by regulations to ensure the overarching goal of small business investment is maintained, and so that the system is not abused for tax relief.
What companies can use the EIS?
Small businesses that want to use the EIS must:
- Have a maximum of £15 million in gross assets
- Have a maximum of 250 employees
- Have at least seven years since the business’s first commercial sale
- Not already be trading shares on a recognised stock exchange
These are the general conditions for a company to use EIS. There may be higher limits for other businesses carrying out research and innovative activities.
What can the money be used for?
The money raised by the business through selling shares must be used within two years in most instances, and it must be used on a “qualifying trade”. The money can be spent on preparing, researching or developing something that would lead to the qualifying trade activity.
The rules on what does and doesn’t qualify can be complex.
How to apply for EIS
A business can apply to use the EIS by providing an extensive list of documents to prove your business qualifies for the scheme. These documents will need to be sent to HMRC’s Venture Capital Relief Team. If the application is successful, HMRC will respond with a compliance certificate that can be shared with investors so they can claim tax relief.
The process is worthwhile for many businesses and their investors, but it can also be complex.
ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SCHEMES (EIS) INVEST IN ASSETS THAT ARE HIGH RISK AND CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SELL.
THE VALUE OF THE INVESTMENT AND THE INCOME FROM IT CAN FALL AS WELL AS RISE AND INVESTORS MAY NOT GET BACK WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY INVESTED, EVEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE TAX BENEFITS.
TAX TREATMENT VARIES ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
THIS SERVICE MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR NEW CLIENTS.
MEET OUR Director/Wealth Manager
Aman Mashiana
Aman Mashiana is a strategic wealth management professional with more than 15 years’ experience building and leading advisory practices, managing substantial client portfolios, and delivering sustainable revenue growth in competitive financial markets.
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Not at all. We believe great financial planning should be accessible. Whether you are just starting to build your assets, navigating a major life transition, or managing multi-generational wealth, we tailor our advice completely to your current situation and future goals.
Our initial conversation is entirely exploratory and comes at no cost to you. It’s simply a chance to get to know each other. We’ll discuss your current financial picture, what you hope to achieve, and how we might be able to help. You won't need to sign anything or make any big decisions on day one.
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We don't believe in cookie-cutter portfolios. We take the time to deeply understand your time horizon, your specific life goals, and your personal comfort level with market volatility. From there, we build a diversified portfolio designed to grow your wealth steadily while keeping your risk well within your comfort zone.
Yes. Making money on investments is only half the battle; keeping it tax-efficient is just as important. We actively structure your wealth to minimize Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Inheritance Tax, ensuring more of your hard-earned money stays with you and your loved ones.
Tax planning, estate planning & Inheritance Tax planning are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Not at all. We believe great financial planning should be accessible. Whether you are just starting to build your assets, navigating a major life transition, or managing multi-generational wealth, we tailor our advice completely to your current situation and future goals.
Our initial conversation is entirely exploratory and comes at no cost to you. It’s simply a chance to get to know each other. We’ll discuss your current financial picture, what you hope to achieve, and how we might be able to help. You won't need to sign anything or make any big decisions on day one.
We want to make managing your wealth as convenient as possible. We are happy to meet face-to-face at our office, or we can host a secure virtual meeting via video call (such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom) if that fits better into your busy schedule.
We believe in absolute fee transparency, meaning we agree on all costs upfront before any work begins. Depending on the complexity of your needs, our fees may be structured as a transparent percentage of the assets we manage, a flat fixed fee for a specific project, or an hourly rate. There are never any hidden costs or surprise bills.
Absolutely. It's incredibly common to lose track of old workplace pensions over time. We can help you trace your scattered accounts, review their current performance and fees, and—if it makes financial sense—consolidate them into a single, high-performing, and easy-to-manage retirement plan.
We don't believe in cookie-cutter portfolios. We take the time to deeply understand your time horizon, your specific life goals, and your personal comfort level with market volatility. From there, we build a diversified portfolio designed to grow your wealth steadily while keeping your risk well within your comfort zone.
Yes. Making money on investments is only half the battle; keeping it tax-efficient is just as important. We actively structure your wealth to minimize Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Inheritance Tax, ensuring more of your hard-earned money stays with you and your loved ones.
Tax planning, estate planning & Inheritance Tax planning are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
