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EIS & VCT company limits raised
From 6 April 2026, the company-level limits for EIS and VCT investment are increased — meaning more scaling businesses can qualify for funding under these venture capital schemes.
Stack 02 / United Kingdom
SEIS · EIS · Advance Assurance
UK SEIS & EIS
for deep-tech, FoodTech & IP-heavy ventures.
Investor-grade Advance Assurance for technically complex UK companies — fermentation, biotech, synthetic biology, climate hardware and other IP-led ventures. Fully aligned with the April 2026 EIS, VCT and BIR changes.
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Free Diagnostic · 5 minutes
SEIS/EIS eligibility — assessed the way HMRC reviews it.
A structured, rule-based assessment designed to identify issues before Advance Assurance, not after. Used by founders preparing SEIS/EIS submissions prior to engaging advisers.
Proprietary diagnostic engine · AI-trained
Know where you stand before you submit.
Our in-house assessor applies the same evaluative logic HMRC uses on Advance Assurance reviews — trade qualification, risk to capital, use of funds, share class structure and the April 2026 limits. No marketing fluff. Just a clear verdict.
- Rule-based engine
- HMRC-style logic
- April 2026 ready
- No advice given
- Deterministic output
Free · ~5 minutes · No payment · Email required to unlock full report
Email unlocks
- ✓Full key-flag list
- ✓Practical interpretation
- ✓Recommended next step
- ✓Diagnostic index /100
- ✓Downloadable PDF summary
- ✓Where we can help
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For Founders
Right-first-time Advance Assurance.
We engineer SEIS and EIS Advance Assurance applications to clear HMRC scrutiny on first read. The technical narrative, risk-to-capital positioning and use-of-funds structure are all drafted to the evaluative framework HMRC actually applies.
- 01AI-driven eligibility assessment before any submission
- 02Cap table, share class and SIC alignment review
- 03Risk-to-capital narrative drafted to HMRC criteria
- 04Direct HMRC liaison via formal agent appointment
- 05Full alignment with the April 2026 EIS company-limit changes
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For Investors
What changes from 6 April 2026.
A concise read of the UK investment tax-relief changes most relevant to venture investors and qualifying companies.
02
VCT income tax relief reduced
From the same date, the rate of VCT income tax relief is reduced to 20% (from 30% before 6 April 2026).
03
CGT exemption preserved
For many investors, a key benefit remains the exemption from capital gains tax on the sale of EIS or VCT shares, where the conditions are met.
04
Business Investment Relief (BIR)
If the investor previously used the remittance basis, BIR may allow them to bring foreign income and gains to the UK without a tax charge if the funds are invested in a qualifying company.
05
BIR transitional rules
Transitional rules apply to pre-6 April 2025 foreign income and gains until 5 April 2028.
06
BIR sunset
From 6 April 2028 it will not be possible to claim BIR on new investments or reinvestments.
Source: Published HMRC guidance · The CFO Stack briefing, 2026. Informational only — not personal tax advice.
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FAQ
Questions founders actually ask before applying.
Direct answers to the questions we field most often on SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance.
01How long does SEIS Advance Assurance take?
HMRC's published service standard for SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance is 4–8 weeks, typically with one or more rounds of technical follow-up questions. Well-structured submissions can be approved materially faster — our most recent SEIS Advance Assurance was approved in 20 days, on first read, with zero follow-up queries.
02Can I get SEIS if I have already received grant funding?
Yes. Innovation grants (Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, EIC) do not disqualify a company from SEIS, but they must be carefully sequenced and disclosed. The risk-to-capital narrative must show that the SEIS investment funds genuine commercial growth — not the work the grant already funded — and that the grant did not constitute disqualifying state aid against SEIS limits.
03Is fermentation IP or deep-tech IP eligible for SEIS / EIS?
Fermentation, biotech, synthetic biology and other IP-heavy ventures are eligible for SEIS/EIS provided the company is carrying on a qualifying trade and meets the company conditions. The harder question is investor-readiness: defensibility of process IP, freedom-to-operate, and whether the cap table and share class structure can withstand HMRC's risk-to-capital test.
04What if my SEIS application is rejected by HMRC?
An HMRC refusal of Advance Assurance is rarely the end of the matter — it is usually a structural signal. Typical reasons include weak risk-to-capital narrative, unclear use of funds, share class issues, or the company being too mature. Most refusals can be remediated through governance reset, cap table cleanup and a re-drafted submission.
05Do I need a clean cap table before applying for SEIS?
Yes. HMRC will scrutinise share classes, prior shareholder exits, founder dilution and any preferential rights. A messy cap table is one of the most common reasons SEIS submissions are delayed or refused. Restructuring before filing — not after — saves weeks and preserves the venture's investability.
06Does the April 2026 HMRC update affect my SEIS plans?
The April 2026 changes target EIS, VCT and BIR — not SEIS directly. SEIS limits remain unchanged. However, founders planning SEIS now and EIS afterwards benefit from materially higher EIS company-level limits from 6 April 2026.
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Cross-Stack
Beyond Advance Assurance.
SEIS / EIS Advance Assurance is a UK-only specialism. For ventures operating across European markets — or requiring full fractional financial leadership — engagements move into the Fractional AI CFO stack.