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

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+™
  • 23 Mar 2026 10:21

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

Popular Articles

Personal Tax

Taxation of dividend income

Taxation of dividend incomeIntroductionA dividend is a distribution of profit by a company to its shareholders.A dividend is not only a payment in cash. It can be the issue of new shares in exchange for forfeiting the right to a cash payment (a stock dividend). For more detail, see the Cash

14 Jul 2020 13:48 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
tag-icon Autumn Budget 2025 tag-icon Tax Returns
Corporation Tax

Premiums on the grant or surrender of a lease

Premiums on the grant or surrender of a leasePremiums on the grant of a lease ― outlineWhen a property investor grants a lease, potentially this could be done on the basis that the tenant pays a premium for the initial grant of the lease, in addition to also paying rent over the term of the lease.

14 Jul 2020 12:58 | Produced by Tolley in association with Rob Durrant-Walker of Crane Dale Tax, part of AMS Group Read more Read more
Trusts and Inheritance Tax

Gifts with reservation ― overview

Gifts with reservation ― overviewIntroductionA gift with reservation (GWR) arises when an individual ostensibly makes a gift of his property to another person but retains for himself some or all of the benefit of owning the property. The legislation defines a gift with reservation with reference to

14 Jul 2020 11:48 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more