Seed enterprise investment scheme ― scheme criteria

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Owner-Managed Businesses expert
Owner-Managed Businesses
Guidance

Seed enterprise investment scheme ― scheme criteria

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Owner-Managed Businesses expert
Owner-Managed Businesses
Guidance
imgtext

The seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS), like the enterprise investment scheme (EIS), is designed to encourage individuals to invest money in shares issued by qualifying unquoted companies though it is specifically aimed at very small companies which have only recently begun to carry on a qualifying trade, see the Seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS) ― introduction guidance note. The following note summarises the criteria which need to be met in order to be eligible for SEIS, details of the application process and how to apply for advance assurance that the scheme meets the criteria can be found in the Seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS) ― introduction guidance note.

HMRC’s guidance is at VCM30000 onwards.

Scheme criteria

To be eligible for relief, the scheme imposes conditions for the investor and the company, and has a number of general requirements.

These apply to two particular periods in relation to the incorporation of the company and the issue of shares. These are referred to in the legislation as periods A and B.

Period A runs from the

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
TAKE A FREE TRIAL NOW
Powered by Tolley+™
  • 24 May 2023 14:20

Home/ Tolley Tax Guidance/ Owner-Managed Businesses / Share schemes and OMB companies

Popular Articles

Corporation Tax

Foreign exchange issues

Foreign exchange issuesOverview of foreign exchange provisionsForeign exchange (FX) movements are generally taxed following the rules applicable to the underlying income, expenditure, asset or liability on which they arise, broadly as follows:Capital assetsOn a realisation basis (ie on disposal)

14 Jul 2020 11:44 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Trusts and Inheritance Tax

BPR ― trading and investment businesses

BPR ― trading and investment businessesIntroductionThe basic qualification rules for business property relief (BPR) are illustrated in the Flowchart ― trading or investment business for BPR purposes.For an overview of BPR, see the BPR overview guidance note.Relevant business propertyThe main

14 Jul 2020 15:36 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more

Short-term business visitors (STBVs)

Short-term business visitors (STBVs)What is a short-term business visitor?An STBV for UK tax purposes is an individual who performs duties for a non-UK employer and as a part of those duties has been asked to spend a short period working in the UK. There is a common misconception that there is

Read more Read more