SEIS, Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) Tax Relief UK

SEIS EIS SCHEME

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WHAT IS SEIS SCHEME?

Seed investment enterprise scheme or seis is a scheme introduced by the government to help small or medium sized companies attract investments and grow. In return, the eligible investors(usually the private investors ) get generous tax relief when they buy new shares in the company. This scheme is especially beneficial for startups looking to raise funds and increase their capital.

SEIS is very similar to another type of funding EIS. The main difference is that SEIS is ideal for very early stage startups while EIS is more suited to established businesses needing growth. If an investor wants higher tax relief they may choose SEIS however, if the investor wants to invest large sums but in mature

What companies qualify for SEIS?

To be able to secure funding through SEIS your company should have the following.

● The company should have a permanent establishment in the UK.

● Carries out a new qualifying trade. Some trades such as financial.

● The company is not trading on a recognised stock exchange at the time of share issue. services, property development are excluded.

● The company does not control any subsidiary which is not a qualifying subsidiary.

● The company is not controlled by another company or does not have more than 50% of its shares owned by another company.

● The companies must have under 25 employees.

● The company must not have been trading for more than 3 years.

● The gross assets are below £350 000 at the time of the share issue.

● The company must not have received any funding from Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) or Venture Capital Trust (VCT).

If you are not sure if your company qualifies for SEIS funding and you want to seek professional advice you can call Taxaccolega, expert accountants in croydon, london, surrey at 0208 392 9375 and our expert team of accountants will be happy to help you.

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Who can invest in a startup company through SEIS funding?

The investors are usually individual investors who are paying UK income tax but are not necessarily UK residents. You can check HMRC website for more information on UK residents.

The investor should not be connected to the company. For example, the investor cannot be an employee of the company he is investing in, he cannot be the partner of the company or the director of the company before investing in the company although he can be a director after investing in the company.

The investor cannot even be the family members of the directors or the employees of the company otherwise they will be considered connected and therefore they won’t qualify as an investor for SEIS.

What reliefs are available to the investors?

1. Income tax relief:

The investors can claim 50% income tax relief on the amount invested (this is the total amount of shares issues to you)

The maximum tax relief you can get is £100, 000 per tax year. For example if you invest £20 000 in an SEIS eligible company, you can reduce your income tax liability by £10 000.

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To get the relief you must hold the shares for at least 3 years. If you dispose of the shares before 3 years you might have to pay full or part of the relief.

If you need help on how to apply for SEIS income tax relief , please don’t hesitate to contact Taxaccolega and our expert team of income tax accountants in croydon, london will be able to help you.

2.Capital Gains Tax Relief:

If the investors sell SEIS shares after owning them for 3 years and make a profit on it, they won’t have to pay any capital gains tax on the profits. It should be noted that this relief is only available if the shares are held for 3 years.

3. Capital Gains Reinvestment Scheme

If the investor made capital gains by selling some other shares and then the gain is reinvested in SEIS shares. 50% of that gain would be exempt from CGT.

4.Loss Relief

If you make a loss on the disposal of your SEIS shares at any time, you can offset this loss against any income or chargeable gains, this will reduce your overall impact.

If you have invested in SEIS shares and you are not sure how to calculate your loss relief you can contact our accountants at Taxaccolega and our expert team of accountants can help you calculate your loss relief and claim your loss relief.

5. Inheritance Tax Relief

Investing in SIES shares can be very tax efficient in tax planning. If the SEIS shares are held for 2 years , they may qualify for 100% relief from inheritance tax.

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BENEFITS OF SEIS TO THE START UP COMPANIES

Easy access to funding

Start ups or the early stage companies are able to secure funding through SEIS. The main reason is that SEIS offers tax benefits to the investors. If you are a startup company willing to take higher risks, looking for funding and you qualify for SEIS funding you should definitely consider applying for SEIS . Potential investors are willing to invest in early startup companies because they get generous tax relief and there is a lower risk to them if the company fails.

Increased Cash flow

By securing investment through SEIS the startup companies can have access to the funding in their early stages which can help them cover the initial operational costs, help them with the development costs and expand their market. This will allow them to take risks and help them grow.

What do I need to do to secure SEIS funding?

First you have to assure that your company qualifies for SEIS . The eligibility criteria of a company applying for SEIS is discussed above.

After you have established that your company qualifies for SEIS funding, you should prepare essential documents such as business plans , financial forecasts and your company structure.

You should gather information on all the planned investments and the expected use of the funds.

You can also apply for advanced assurance by completing an advance assurance form on HMRC’s website and providing supporting documents. The advanced assurance is not compulsory however it is recommended as it boosts the confidence of the investors in the company they are investing in.

You can approach potential SEIS investors and pitch your business to them . You should also explain about the tax reliefs they can get by investing in your company.

Once you have received your investment you should issue shares to your investors within 30 days.

You should complete SEIS 1 compliance statement form. This form confirms that you have met all SEIS conditions and have planned to use this investment for qualifying business purposes.

Once HMRC approves the compliance statement form, you will be issued SEIS 3 certificates by HMRC.

These SEIS certificates will help the investors claim their SEIS tax relief on their tax returns.

It’s very important that you keep all your related documents safe even after you have issued the shares.

How is SEIS funding better than normal funding?

SEIS is better than the normal loans because they dont require immediate payment. Such an investment is better suited for the start up companies as there is no immediate liability for monthly repayments or interest payments, allowing them to focus on growth and diversity.

If you are an investor how can you claim SEIS tax relief?

If you are an investor and have invested in a SEIS qualified company you should be able to claim SEIS tax relief when you complete your tax return.

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FAQs

1. What is the maximum amount a startup can receive through Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme?

The maximum a startup company can receive through SEIS funding is £250 000

2. What happens to the tax relief if the company is not able to follow the rules of the SEIS?

The tax reliefs will be withheld and could potentially be withdrawn if the company does not follow the rules for at least 3 years after the investment is made.

3. If I have received investment through EIS or from venture capital trust will I still be able to secure funding through SEIS?

No. If you have received funding through EIS or from venture capital you won’t be able to get more funding from SEIS.

4. What is advanced assurance and is it compulsory?

Getting an advanced assurance is recommended but it is not compulsory. It is a process where HMRC will review your company’s details and will confirm if your company is likely to qualify for SEIS. This will give confidence to the investors as well.

5. Once I have invested in a SEIS qualified company will I get any dividends?

You can potentially receive dividends on the shares but practically it’s highly unlikely that you will receive funds. The main reason is that the company is in its early stages and therefore it would prefer to reinvest the funds generated instead of distributing it to the investors.