Comments on: SEIS Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme

By: John Thomas

John Thomas — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:15:13 +0000

Do you know if a qualifying investor can invest in an EIS and an SEIS in the same tax year?

By: Yuri Neshitov

Yuri Neshitov — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:32:24 +0000

This is good news! This separate program is a clear evidence of stable positive trend in the industrial policy, I think.

Another way to help startups is tax incentives for buyers of new businesses products and services. This may work as power leverage for startups. Tax incentives for investors and tax incentives for buyers from new companies working together may change small business landscape in a radical manner. Hope we will see it…

By: Dave Edwards

Dave Edwards — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:30:49 +0000

The main problem I see with SEIS is that the maximum sums possible are very small. Also, be aware that EIS/SEIS can’t run concurrently (you need to have spent all the SEIS funds before receiving new EIS funds).

Burgess Salmon have great advice on this – they did a great session recently at SetSquared in Bristol.

By: Jie-Ming Chung

Jie-Ming Chung — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:55:41 +0000

Hi Lee,

There are a number requirements both the investor and the company needs to meet. There are a number of trades which are excluded, but I don’t think yours is.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/seedeis/how-to-qualify.htm#5

Regards,

Jie-Ming

By: Do investors in start-ups deserve tax breaks « universalowner.com

Do investors in start-ups deserve tax breaks « universalowner.com — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:03:21 +0000

Governments of western countries are going crazy about jobs. Following the wisdom that small businesses create jobs, tax credits & incentives for investors in start-ups pop up around the world.

By: Krassimir Kostadinov

Krassimir Kostadinov — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:02:29 +0000

Lawrence, that seems to be good news for the UK start-ups. There was an opinion poll and a discussion on a similar topic (US-related) in the Wall Street Journal online community (http://online.wsj.com/community/groups/strategic-planning-emerging-companies/topics/do-angel-investors-deserve-tax). 68% of the answers were in favour of a tax credit for investors in start-up businesses. I actually voted against tax credits on that poll, here are my reasons:
1. Taxes are very complex anyway, any additional tax credit policy will only result in more complexity and will open up the doors for tax loopholes.
2. Successful venture-backed start-ups are done by people who can easily find a jobs elsewhere. In this sense venture-backed start-ups do not really create jobs.
3. Typical small businesses do create jobs, but typical small businesses do not qualify for venture money anyway (with and without tax credits).

Personally I am based in Luxembourg, so the tax policy of UK / US does not matter really for me. I think what most start-ups need is not tax credits for investors, and in fact it is not investor money anyway. What most start-ups need is a way to get access to potential clients / sales channels / business partners. In this sense what your organization is doing could be more benefitial in the long run then the costy government program you are describing…

By: Dreamagility

Dreamagility — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:27:39 +0000

We’re very excited about SEIS, bu one of the things we’ve noticed when speaking to VC’s is they don’t like lots of shareholders. The Editor of the Insider suggested a trust to put smaller investors into hide/ contain the number of shareholders and let the SEIS sit in there. Anyone done anything like this and how was it for you?

By: simon

simon — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:09:53 +0000

As an investor, how do i find out what SEIS investment opps there are out there!?

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:07:24 +0000

Not bad at all! It would have been even better to do something about crowdfunding (as the US of A just did today).

By: lee

lee — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:14:00 +0000

my business has not started due to lack of money.I was going to sell seafood around pubs and keep a good British tradition alive.
i am registered with the environmental health and trading standards.
All pubs i have been to want it, could this new scheme help me