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Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) — Company Certification

Offers United Kingdom start-up founders investment support through certified tax relief for early innovation and development.

OpenHM Revenue and CustomsUnited Kingdom

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is the UK's most generous venture capital tax-relief scheme, designed for very early-stage companies raising their first external equity. Investors receive 50% Income Tax relief on the amount invested plus a 50% CGT reinvestment exemption, making SEIS more attractive to early investors than the 30% relief available under EIS. As with EIS, it is the comp

Very early-stage UK companies: trade <3 years old, gross assets ≤£350K, <25 FTE. Must not have had prior EIS or VCT investment.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Rolling
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.Rolling
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Tax credit
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.

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Last verified: 22 Jul 2026Source: www.gov.uk