Specialist SEIS and EIS advance assurance advice

When a funding round has a difficult tax question, the application form is only part of the work. IP Tax Solutions advises founders, investors and professional advisers on SEIS and EIS structures, advance assurance refusals and post-investment compliance.

Work directly with Steve Livingston FCA, a KPMG-trained chartered accountant and former Crowe tax partner who founded IP Tax Solutions in 2013.

Discuss your SEIS or EIS position

Who this service is for

Specialist advice is particularly useful where you are:

  • responding to an advance assurance refusal or a technical HMRC question;
  • raising several rounds or combining SEIS and EIS funding;
  • working with a group, overseas ownership or a predecessor business;
  • reviewing acquired intellectual property, excluded activities or unusual share terms;
  • assessing an investor's position separately from the company's qualification; or
  • dealing with a compliance issue after investment.

If you are preparing an application, start with our SEIS advance assurance guide. It explains the documents, investor evidence, HMRC response targets and subsequent compliance process.

What the work can cover

Company and investment review. We examine the business, ownership, funding history, proposed share rights and use of money. The scope can include qualifying trade, risk-to-capital, group conditions and the conditions specific to each scheme.

Advance assurance applications and refusals. We identify the point requiring an opinion, prepare or review the supporting explanation and handle the agreed HMRC correspondence. If the proposed structure cannot qualify, we explain the problem before further work is committed.

Investor eligibility. Advance assurance does not establish an individual investor's entitlement to relief. An investor review is a separate part of the scope where needed.

Implementation and compliance. We can review the tax aspects of the final share documents, prepare or review SEIS1/EIS1 compliance statements and advise on continuing obligations. Corporate legal drafting can be coordinated with your solicitor.

The distinction between advance assurance and investor entitlement is explained in HMRC's application guidance.

How an engagement works

  1. Explain the situation. Tell us what the business does, the proposed investment and the decision or HMRC issue you need to resolve.
  2. Agree the scope and fee. We define the work, information needed and deliverables in writing before starting.
  3. Review and advise. We assess the relevant facts and documents, explain the technical position and prepare the agreed application or response.
  4. Support the next step. Where included in the scope, we help with HMRC questions and the transition to implementation and compliance.

Practical examples and guidance

Each case depends on its facts. A previous outcome is not a guarantee that another investment will qualify.

For accountants, lawyers and corporate finance advisers

We work alongside your existing team on the specialist tax issues. Your client stays your client. The engagement can cover a defined second opinion, a structure review or the agreed application and HMRC correspondence.

Discuss a case

For the first conversation, outline the company's activities, investment amount, proposed timing and the point causing concern. If HMRC has already written, tell us the reason given and any response date. We will agree how supporting documents should be shared.

Contact IP Tax Solutions to discuss the scope of a review.

Email: info@iptaxsolutions.co.uk
Phone: 0161 961 0096