How long does advance assurance take?

HMRC's current target for advance assurance decisions is 28 days from receipt of a complete application. In practice, well-prepared applications with clear business plans and complete supporting documents are often decided within 2 to 4 weeks. Poorly prepared applications frequently trigger information requests that add months to the process. A properly structured application submitted by an experienced Chartered Accountant materially reduces the turnaround time.

What can cause HMRC to refuse an advance assurance application?

The most common reasons for refusal include the trade being an excluded activity such as financial services, property development, leasing, or energy generation above certain thresholds; the company having already exceeded the permitted age limit; the investment being used for the acquisition of existing businesses; or the application being incomplete or unclear. A Chartered Accountant with SEIS and EIS experience identifies these risks upfront and structures the application accordingly.

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SEIS & EIS Applications That Get Approved.

SEIS and EIS are the most powerful investor incentives in the UK. Up to 50% income tax relief for SEIS investors. Up to 30% for EIS. Investors who are not asking about these schemes are leaving significant money on the table — and so are you if your company is not approved.

✓ Advance assurance applications ✓ Compliance statements (SEIS1/EIS1) ✓ Investor certificates ✓ HMRC correspondence

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Talk to Us About SEIS or EIS

We will assess your eligibility and tell you what we need to get started.

SEIS vs EIS — What Each Scheme Offers

Both schemes are administered by HMRC and require formal advance assurance before shares are issued. The rules are strict — and a rejected application can cost you an investor. We get it right first time.

SEIS

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme

For very early-stage companies raising their first investment.

Income tax relief of 50% for investors
Up to £250,000 raised under SEIS (lifetime limit)
Company must have fewer than 25 employees and assets under £350,000 when shares are issued
Capital gains exemption on disposal for investors
Loss relief available even if company fails
Must be within 3 years of first commercial sale

EIS

Enterprise Investment Scheme

For growth-stage companies raising larger rounds from investors.

Income tax relief of 30% for investors
Up to £5 million raised per year under EIS
Lifetime limit of £12 million (£20 million for knowledge-intensive companies)
Company must have fewer than 250 employees and assets under £15 million
Capital gains deferral relief for investors
Can be used after SEIS limit is exhausted

How We Handle Your SEIS/EIS Application

STEP 1

Eligibility Assessment

We review your company structure, trading history and planned use of funds against HMRC’s qualifying conditions.

STEP 2

Advance Assurance Application

We prepare and submit the advance assurance application to HMRC’s Venture Capital Reliefs team. This gives investors certainty before they commit.

STEP 3

Compliance Statements

After shares are issued, we file the SEIS1 or EIS1 compliance statement with HMRC to trigger the formal approval process.

STEP 4

Investor Certificates

We issue SEIS2/EIS3 certificates to your investors so they can claim their tax relief on their own self-assessment returns.

SEIS & EIS Questions

HMRC’s current target for advance assurance decisions is 28 days from receipt of a complete application. In practice, well-prepared applications with clear business plans and complete supporting documents are often decided within 2-4 weeks. Poorly prepared applications frequently trigger information requests that add months to the process. We prepare applications to HMRC’s standard first time, which materially reduces the turnaround.

Yes. Companies typically use SEIS for the first £250,000 raised and then move on to EIS for subsequent rounds. The two schemes cannot be used simultaneously for the same shares, but they can run in sequence. Some early-stage rounds include both SEIS and EIS investors at the same time if the SEIS limit has already been partially used. We manage the sequencing carefully to keep investors and HMRC happy.

The most common reasons include: the trade being an excluded activity (financial services, property development, leasing, energy generation above certain thresholds); the company having already exceeded the permitted age limit; the money being used for acquisition of existing businesses; or the application being incomplete or unclear. HMRC’s guidance is detailed but not always straightforward to apply. A Chartered Accountant with SEIS/EIS experience identifies these risks upfront and structures the application accordingly.

No — advance assurance is HMRC confirming that the company appears to qualify based on the information submitted at that point. The actual relief is only confirmed after the shares are issued and the compliance statement is filed. The company must continue to meet the qualifying conditions throughout the relevant holding period. This is why post-investment compliance monitoring matters as much as the initial application.

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