Our Funds
Tax-Efficient Funds
Ascension Blended SEIS Fund
One of the most established SEIS funds in the market, comprising a portfolio of 10-12 tech companies raising up to £2m.
Learn moreAscension EIS Fund
Evergreen EIS fund (quarterly closes) focusing on tech companies with early product-market fit raising up to £4m.
Learn moreAscension Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund
An HMRC-approved fund focusing on knowledge-intensive technology companies raising up to £4m.
Learn moreCarry Back EIS Fund
Designed for investors and advisers seeking 'carry back' within the current tax year, whilst building a diversified portfolio of businesses.
Learn moreFair By Design Impact EIS Fund
Co-invests in tech companies working to reduce the Poverty Premium alongside Ascension's institutional fund.
Learn moreTax efficient investing
Benefits of (S)EIS Investing
The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) in the UK offers tax reliefs to investors who buy new shares in small, high-risk trading companies. Benefits include:
Income Tax Relief
Investors can claim back up to 30% of the value of their investment in the form of income tax relief. For instance, if you invest £100,000, you can potentially reduce your income tax bill by £30,000
Capital Gains Tax Exemption
If you hold the shares for at least three years, any profit you make when the shares are sold is exempt from Capital Gains Tax.
Loss Relief
If the company fails, you can offset the loss against your Income Tax bill or Capital Gains Tax, depending on your individual circumstances. This can mitigate the financial risk.
Inheritance Tax Relief
EIS investments are generally free from Inheritance Tax after two years of holding the shares.
Carry Back Facility
Investors have the option to ‘carry back’ their investment to the previous tax year. This allows you to apply the tax relief to that year’s tax bill, which can be particularly beneficial if you had a higher tax liability in the previous year.
Investment Limits
The maximum investment eligible for tax relief is £1 million per tax year, which can increase to £2 million if at least £1 million is invested in knowledge-intensive companies.
Qualifying Companies
To qualify for EIS, companies must meet specific criteria, such as being a UK-based company, not listed on a recognised stock exchange, and having gross assets of no more than £15 million before the investment.
EIS is designed to help smaller, higher-risk companies raise finance by offering tax reliefs to investors and, at the same time, provides significant tax benefits to those willing to invest in these companies. However, it’s crucial to remember that EIS investments are risky, and investors should consider this alongside the tax advantages
SEIS Investing