Updated 03 December 2020
4min read
A venture capital scheme is a government scheme that helps small or medium-sized companies find investment. When investors hold shares or bonds in the business through one of these schemes, they benefit from generous savings on both income tax and capital gains tax.
Venture capital schemes are a good way to raise funds for business growth, such as:
Each scheme has slightly different rules, but the main requirement is that funds raised must go towards the improvement of your business in some way. Other rules state that you must not make agreements with your investor that protect them from investment risk or enable tax avoidance (other than in the way intended by the scheme).
You can raise funds through a venture capital scheme if your company is permanently based in the UK, isn’t on any recognised stock exchange and has gross assets of less than £15 million. Some sectors are also excluded, such as legal and financial services, property development, and coal or steel production. If you’re unsure, you can seek ‘advance assurance’ from HMRC or speak to a financial adviser before applying.
The maximum you can raise from all the venture capital schemes you use is £5 million in any 12-month period and £12 million during the lifetime of your business. However there may be higher limits if your company carries out R&D and innovation activities.
Currently there are four types of scheme: EIS, the SEIS, the SITR and VCTs.
The EIS is a way to raise up to £5 million from individuals buying new shares in your company. To qualify for EIS, the main criteria is that your business must:
You must spend the money within two years of the investment, or the date you started trading, whichever is latest. You’re not allowed to use EIS investments to buy any size of stake in a new business.
Also, before you issue any shares, the investor(s) must have paid for them fully in cash.
Designed for new small companies, the SEIS allows individuals to invest up to £150,000 in fledgling companies.
To qualify, your company must have:
You won’t be able to use SEIS if you’ve already raised funds through the EIS or from a Venture Capital Trust (VCT). You must spend the money raised within three years of issuing shares to your investor(s), and (just like the EIS) shares must be paid for upfront in cash.
If you’re running a social enterprise (such as a charity, not-for-profit or community interest company), the Social Investment Tax Relief Scheme (SITR) could allow you to raise up to €344,827 (around £250,000) from direct individual investors for investment back into the community.
Among other terms, your organisation must have:
Again, you can’t use the funds to buy shares in other companies, and they must be used within 28 months of your investor buying shares or lending you the money as a debt investment.
A VCT is different from the other kinds of venture capital scheme. It is a fund held by lots of investors, which makes indirect reinvestment into smaller companies.
VCTs are companies authorised by HMRC and listed on the London stock market so investors can buy in to them. To be eligible for VCT investment your company must have:
Again, you can’t raise more than £5 million in any 12-month period or more than £12 million during your company’s lifetime.
The other main difference with VCTs is that you don’t apply through HMRC, but instead approach the company yourself. They don’t tend to invest in startups or micro-companies, and naturally prefer companies that are already in profit.
Venture capital schemes are a great incentive for investors to put money into your business. Firstly, they are a way for people to invest in companies and social enterprises that are not listed on a stock exchange.
Secondly, investing in a venture capital scheme offers significant tax savings. This makes it more attractive for investors to fund smaller, potentially fast-growing companies, by mitigating some of the risk of doing so.
Tax reliefs that may be available (depending on the scheme) include:
The SEIS offers income tax relief on up to 50 per cent of an investment (though investments are capped at £100,000). Other schemes offer tax relief on up to 30 per cent, though the caps are higher.
Find out more about tax reliefs for investors on venture capital schemes.
First, explore which scheme(s) are most suitable for your company, and check your eligibility. Then apply through HMRC (or directly in the case of VCTs). Remember you will need a strong new business pitch to demonstrate how your company will use the funding to achieve growth. A good accountant will be able to take you through the funding process and advise you at each step of the way.
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