EIS is a UK government scheme that gives investors significant tax reliefs for backing small, early-stage UK companies. It exists because that kind of investing is genuinely high-risk — the reliefs are the trade-off. This page explains how the scheme works in general. Take Markets introduces qualified investors to specific EIS opportunities, but no particular investment is named or detailed here.
*Unlisted EIS shares, from April 2026, up to £2.5M per person. **£2M per tax year if the excess is invested in "knowledge-intensive" companies. EIS investments are high-risk, illiquid, and not suitable for everyone. This page is general information only — not financial advice, and not a promotion of any specific investment.
Every relief below exists because the underlying investment — shares in a small, unlisted UK company — carries real risk of total loss. The reliefs reduce that downside; they don't remove it.
30% of the amount invested can be set against your income tax bill in the year of investment, or carried back to the previous year. Capped to your actual tax liability, and to a £1M (or £2M) annual allowance.
Gains on EIS shares are free of Capital Gains Tax, provided they're held for at least 3 years and income tax relief was claimed on purchase.
Existing capital gains — from property, shares, or other assets — can be reinvested into EIS shares and the CGT deferred indefinitely, with no upper limit on the gain deferred.
If the company fails, the loss (after income tax relief already claimed) can be offset against income or capital gains — meaningfully reducing, but not eliminating, the downside.
Shares in qualifying unlisted EIS companies, held for 2+ years, attract Business Property Relief from IHT — 100% up to £2.5M per person from April 2026, with a 50% rate above that threshold.
EIS companies are early-stage and unlisted. There's no public market for the shares, no guaranteed exit, and a real possibility of losing the entire investment. The government built the reliefs to compensate investors for taking on that risk — not to remove it.
The benefit mix shifts depending on your tax position. None of this is personal advice — always confirm suitability with your own adviser.
Full 30% income tax relief is immediately valuable, and CGT exemption adds further upside if the investment performs. Loss relief reduces — though doesn't remove — the downside if it doesn't.
Relief is capped to your actual tax bill, but CGT exemption and IHT relief remain fully available. Carry-back to a higher-earning prior year can optimise the relief claimed.
CGT deferral on retained profits or other capital gains is often the most relevant relief, alongside a useful inheritance/succession-planning angle.
State pension plus rental or investment income can push total income into higher-rate territory. For this group, the IHT relief is often the lead benefit, alongside CGT exemption on existing gains.
Take Markets Ltd is not authorised by the FCA and does not give financial advice. We act as an introducer only, connecting self-certified qualified investors with EIS opportunities under the Financial Promotions Order 2005 exemptions.
Before seeing any specific opportunity, you self-certify as a High Net Worth Individual, Self-Certified Sophisticated Investor, or Professional Investor under the FPO 2005 — and confirm you've understood the risks.
Specific opportunities — figures, founders, structure — are shared only with investors who've completed that first step.
Take the documents to your accountant or adviser. No time pressure, no obligation.
If it's a fit, we introduce you directly to the company raising the money. All investment agreements and regulated communications happen between you and that company — not Take Markets.
We're introducing qualified investors to a single live EIS opportunity right now. Confirm your status to see the figures, the founders, and the structure.
General information only — not financial advice. EIS investments are high-risk. Take Markets Ltd · Co. No. 14398240 · Introducer only.