EIS / SEIS Services

EIS and SEIS services support UK companies seeking to raise investment under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) or Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). These regimes offer tax reliefs to investors, but strict qualifying conditions and reporting requirements apply.

We help you assess eligibility, secure Advance Assurance and manage ongoing compliance so your investment round proceeds without delays.

Enquire

Back to Tax

3000+

companies helped successfully scale to the UK

25+

years of experience

52

employees all under one roof

CIMA & ACA

approved

What can we help you with?

EIS and SEIS are government-backed investment schemes designed to help early-stage companies raise funding while offering attractive tax reliefs to investors.

Understanding the rules, eligibility criteria, and compliance requirements is key before issuing shares or approaching investors. Our team supports businesses at every stage of the process, from assessing qualification through to advance assurance, registration, and ongoing compliance.

EIS and SEIS Advisory

Before approaching investors, you need clarity on whether your company qualifies under EIS or SEIS rules.

Our advisory support includes:

Assessing eligibility under EIS or SEIS legislation
Reviewing company structure and share capital
Confirming qualifying trade status
Reviewing group arrangements and subsidiaries
Advising on use of funds requirements
Assessing investor eligibility considerations
Reviewing limits on investment amounts

We advise early, before shares are issued. This reduces the risk of later disqualification and protects investor tax relief. Share structuring at this stage can also influence downstream UK tax treatment, coordinated through our UK tax advisory team.

Advance Assurance

Advance Assurance from HM Revenue & Customs gives investors comfort that your company is likely to qualify under EIS or SEIS rules.

We manage:

Preparing Advance Assurance applications
Drafting supporting statements and business plans
Coordinating financial forecasts
Liaising with HMRC during review
Responding to follow-up questions

Advance Assurance is not mandatory, but many investors expect it before committing funds. We structure the application clearly to reduce delays.

Registration and Compliance

Once shares have been issued, further steps are required before investors can claim tax relief.

We support with:

Submitting compliance statements to HMRC
Preparing and filing EIS1 or SEIS1 forms
Monitoring qualifying holding periods
Ensuring ongoing eligibility conditions are met
Advising on disqualifying events
Preparing and issuing EIS3 or SEIS3 certificates to investors

We track key timelines so that your investors can claim income tax relief without unnecessary waiting.

Ongoing Compliance and Deregistration

EIS and SEIS status must be maintained for a qualifying period. Certain actions can trigger loss of relief.

We provide ongoing support by:

Monitoring changes in trade or structure
Reviewing future share issues
Advising on group reorganisations
Assessing impact of new funding rounds
Advising on exit scenarios

If your company ceases to qualify or winds down, we review final compliance requirements and reporting obligations to HMRC.

EIS and SEIS for Scaling UK Companies

We regularly support:

Early-stage UK subsidiaries seeking seed investment
Overseas founders raising capital through a UK vehicle
Growth companies preparing Series A or later funding
Groups restructuring before an investment round

EIS and SEIS often sit alongside corporation tax, share structuring and wider transaction planning. We coordinate across these areas to keep your tax position aligned.

How our EIS / SEIS services work

This structured approach keeps your corporation tax position clear, compliant and aligned with your business objectives.

We confirm whether your company qualifies for EIS or SEIS.

We prepare and submit your Advance Assurance application.

We file compliance statements after shares are issued.

We oversee ongoing eligibility and future funding impacts.

How our EIS / SEIS services work

This structured approach keeps your corporation tax position clear, compliant and aligned with your business objectives.

Meet our Head of Finance

Dom Morris

As our Head of Finance, Dom’s role is to oversee the teams that manage the delivery of fully compliant financial processes for our clients, as well as for advising them on the decisions that will help drive their businesses forward. He is responsible for the Finance teams across both the London and Warwick offices.

What Our Clients Say

Trusted by businesses from all around the world.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We have worked with Goodwille since starting up our UK branch and have nothing but great things to say about the collaboration. The team is always on top regarding delivery and helpfulness and every interaction is smooth and professional. We highly recommend Goodwille!

-EA

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We have been working with Goodwille for the past 3 years, only amazing experiences. They help startups and scaleups that we bring from Nordic countries with their expansion to the UK market. All experts working at Goodwille have a great understanding of advising companies in their market-entry, helping them with every step along the way. We would recommend their services to anyone who needs a trusted partner in the UK market.

-ED

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nothing is too much trouble, Goodwille are our local UK Finance, HR and Administrative function enabling us to focus on doing our day jobs. We have a great relationship, but it is unobtrusive: we engage when needed, otherwise things just tick over. I have had direct engagement for the last two years as local GM. My organisation used them for at least a year prior to that.

-L

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We have worked with Goodwille for over a year and they have assisted us in our UK launch. They are a valued and trusted partner with a can-do attitude and I would recommend them to any company looking to establish a company the UK market. As well as assisting with local issues Goodwille have excellent structures in place and work seamlessly with our Swedish head office.

-SH

Need help with your EIS / SEIS?

Speak to a specialist today. Get immediate answers to your EIS/ SEIS questions and find out how we can help you get trading quickly.

Get in Touch

EIS / SEIS FAQ’s

What companies are eligible for EIS in the UK?

To qualify for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), a company must meet HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) criteria designed to support early-stage and high-growth businesses.

Key eligibility criteria:

Unquoted company – Must not be listed on a stock exchange at the time of investment.
Trading company – Must carry out a qualifying trade, excluding activities like banking, farming, property development, or financial services.
Size limits – Fewer than 250 full-time employees and gross assets under £15 million.
Investment cap – Can receive up to £5 million per year, with a maximum of £12 million over the company’s lifetime.
UK or European base – Must be based in the UK or meet certain EU criteria if eligible.

EIS encourages investment in companies with growth potential while offering tax reliefs to investors, including foreign investors with UK tax obligations.

How do you claim EIS relief in the UK?

To claim Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) relief, investors must follow HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) procedures to reduce their income tax or capital gains tax liability on qualifying investments.

Steps to claim:

Invest in a qualifying company – Ensure the business meets EIS eligibility criteria, including unquoted status, size, and trade type.
Receive an EIS3 certificate – The company provides this form after HMRC approval, confirming your investment qualifies.
Submit your claim to HMRC – Include the EIS3 certificate on your Self-Assessment tax return to apply income tax relief.
Adjust tax liability – HMRC applies 30% income tax relief on the investment, up to annual limits.
Retain records – Keep the EIS3 certificate and investment documentation for at least four years in case of HMRC queries.

Foreign investors with UK tax obligations can also claim relief if they meet HMRC residency and tax rules.

What is EIS income tax relief in the UK?

EIS income tax relief is a UK government incentive that allows investors in qualifying Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) companies to reduce their income tax liability. It is designed to encourage investment in high-risk, early-stage businesses.

Key points:

Relief amount – Investors can claim 30% of the investment against their UK income tax bill.
Investment limit – Relief applies to investments up to £1 million per tax year, or £2 million if at least £1 million is in knowledge-intensive companies.
Holding period – Shares must generally be held for at least three years to retain the relief.
Interaction with other reliefs – EIS can be combined with Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemptions or deferrals for qualifying investments.

This relief helps reduce the financial risk of investing in startups while supporting UK economic growth.

What’s the difference between the EIS and SEIS in the UK?

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) are both UK government programs designed to encourage investment in startups and small businesses, but they target different stages and offer different tax reliefs.

Key differences:

Company stage – SEIS targets very early-stage startups, while EIS applies to more established, higher-risk companies.
Income tax relief – SEIS provides 50% relief on investments up to £100,000 per tax year; EIS offers 30% relief on investments up to £1 million per tax year (or £2 million for knowledge-intensive companies).
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) treatment – SEIS allows CGT exemption on gains reinvested into SEIS shares; EIS provides CGT deferral or exemption if shares are held for at least three years.
Company size limits – SEIS companies must have fewer than 25 employees; EIS companies can have up to 250 employees.

Both schemes aim to reduce investment risk while supporting UK startups, but the choice depends on the company stage and investor strategy.

What is the Enterprise Investment Scheme in the UK?

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is a UK government program designed to encourage investment in high-risk, early-stage companies by offering tax reliefs to investors. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) oversees compliance with EIS rules.

Key points:

Income tax relief – Investors can claim 30% of the investment against their UK income tax liability, up to £1 million per tax year (or £2 million if at least £1 million is invested in knowledge-intensive companies).
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption – Profits from the sale of EIS shares may be exempt from CGT if shares are held for at least three years.
Loss relief – Investors can offset losses against income or gains if the investment fails.
Qualifying companies – Must be unquoted, have fewer than 250 employees, and meet other HMRC criteria.

EIS supports startups and scale-ups while offering tax-efficient opportunities for investors, including foreign investors with UK tax obligations.