Get Ahead with Advance Assurance – Your Quick Start on SEIS and EIS
Looking to win investor confidence and tap into HMRC’s generous tax reliefs? You’ve landed in the right spot. Our SEIS investment guide breaks down advance assurance for the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). No jargon. No fluff. Just clear, step-by-step advice to set your startup on the right path.
Whether you’re swapping pitches over coffee or sketching your business plan on a whiteboard, knowing your eligibility and the paperwork saves headaches—and investor doubts. Ready to streamline your next funding round? Explore our SEIS investment guide to revolutionise your UK investment opportunities and jump straight into compliance without extra fees.
Why Advance Assurance Matters
Every investor wants peace of mind. They need to know your company ticks all the boxes before they commit. That’s where advance assurance comes in.
- Provisional Approval: HMRC confirms your eligibility before funds change hands.
- Tax Relief Confidence: Investors get 50% Income Tax relief under SEIS, plus Capital Gains Tax (CGT) advantages—provided you’ve got the green light.
- Reduced Risk: No one likes surprises. With advance assurance, both you and your investors avoid nasty compliance hiccups later on.
Some legal tech providers—Zegal, for instance—offer expert teams to assemble your application. Useful, yes, but often with extra legal fees and a commission structure that eats into your budget. Oriel IPO does things differently. Our marketplace is fully commission-free. You pay a transparent subscription and keep every pound raised in genuine seed and growth rounds.
Who Qualifies: Are You In?
Before you dive head-first into forms and financial projections, make sure your company meets the basic criteria:
SEIS Eligibility
- Raising no more than £150,000 in total
- Company trading for under 2 years
- Fewer than 25 employees
- Assets below £200,000
- Permanent UK establishment
EIS Eligibility
- Raising up to £5m per tax year (max £12m lifetime)
- Trading for less than 7 years (10 for knowledge-intensive businesses)
- Fewer than 250 employees (500 for knowledge-intensive)
- Assets up to £15m
Fail either? Not to worry. Many startups begin with SEIS rounds to get that “friends and family” traction, then graduate to EIS. Both schemes share the goal of boosting early-stage investment—just at different scales.
Step-by-Step: Navigating HMRC’s Application
Paperwork isn’t sexy, but it matters. Miss a detail, and you risk delays—investors hate delays. Here’s your no-nonsense checklist:
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Company Overview
– Brief business plan
– Financial forecasts
– Details of trade activities and budget allocation -
Fundraise Details
– Amount sought
– Names and addresses of prospective investors
– Draft investor pitch materials -
Corporate Documents
– Latest memorandum and articles of association
– Expected changes to share structure
– Updated register of members -
Previous Funding
– Dates and amounts of prior investments
– Which schemes applied (if any) -
Supporting Agreements
– Any shareholder agreements or side letters
– Group company details, if relevant
Once you’ve got everything in order, submit to HMRC via post or their online service. Expect a turnaround of 6–8 weeks. While you wait, use that time to refine your pitch, line up interested angels, and showcase your product demo.
Midway through your application journey? Make it smoother. Dive into our SEIS investment guide for seamless compliance and tick every HMRC box without fuss.
Commission-Free Compliance with Oriel IPO
You’ve seen platforms that slice a cut off your raise. We’re not them. Oriel IPO is built on a subscription model, not commissions. That means every penny your investors commit stays with you.
What you get:
– Curated Opportunities: Only eligible businesses listed. No drowning in irrelevant pitches.
– Educational Tools: Webinars, guides and expert articles on SEIS and EIS—all in one place.
– Transparent Fees: One subscription, no variable rates. Better for your cashflow.
– Quality Assurance: Our vetting helps investors find companies that truly meet HMRC criteria.
By combining direct capital access with built-in learning resources, Oriel IPO empowers founders to close rounds faster—and keeps both sides of the deal crystal clear.
Tips and Best Practices
A bit of extra polish goes a long way. Here are some insider pointers:
- Be Precise: HMRC rewards clarity. Spell out how every pound of investment will be used.
- Prepare Early: Gather documents before you need them. Last-minute scrambles lead to mistakes.
- Stay Up-to-Date: Tax regulations evolve. Bookmark official HMRC pages or follow reliable Industry news.
- Engage Advisors: Even without FCA regulation, non-legal advisors can catch oversights early.
- Maintain Records: A neat digital folder with all applications, correspondence and updates is your best friend.
Beyond the Basics: Comparing Compliance Paths
Looking at legal-tech firms like Zegal might seem tempting—they’ll draft applications for you. Yet many startups discover the drawbacks:
- Hidden Fees: Legal experts bill hourly or by project. That can add up.
- Commission Structures: Some platforms take a slice of every investment raised.
- Limited Investor Access: Crowdfunding sites aren’t always curated for SEIS/EIS compliance.
Oriel IPO’s approach sidesteps these issues. We combine straightforward subscription pricing with a curated pool of angel investors. You get guidance and a community without surprise bills.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps
Advance assurance is a vital milestone for any UK-based startup seeking SEIS or EIS funding. Nail the paperwork, grab that provisional green light from HMRC, and suddenly your pitch deck feels a lot more compelling.
No need to overpay. With our commission-free model and focused educational tools, Oriel IPO makes compliance simple. Ready to take your funding round from concept to closing table? Discover more in our SEIS investment guide to guide your funding journey
By following this guide, you’ll secure advance assurance with confidence, build investor trust, and keep more of the funds you raise—exactly where they belong. Good luck, and happy fundraising!
