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

Trusts and Inheritance Tax

Gifts out of surplus income

Gifts out of surplus incomeA valuable exemption from inheritance tax (IHT) applies to gifts out of surplus income. This exemption applies only to lifetime gifts and is therefore a key part of lifetime planning. The exemption applies to both outright gifts and gifts into trust. Gifts which meet the

14 Jul 2020 11:48 | Produced by Tolley in association with Emma Haley at Boodle Hatfield LLP Read more Read more
Value Added Tax

Reverse charge ― buying in services from outside the UK

Reverse charge ― buying in services from outside the UKThis guidance note covers the reverse charge that applies to services that have been bought in from outside the UK. For an overview of VAT and international services more broadly, see the International services ― overview guidance note. For

15 Dec 2020 14:02 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Employment Tax

Long service awards

Long service awardsEmployee recognition by an employer can be an important motivational tool, as well as having a positive effect on retention. Most employer awards made to an employee are treated as taxable earnings under ITEPA 2003, s 62 or as a benefit under ITEPA 2003, s 201 because they are

14 Jul 2020 12:11 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more