EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme)
A UK tax-relief scheme offering investors 30% income tax relief for backing higher-risk growth companies.
EIS gives investors 30% income tax relief on investments up to £1m per year (£2m if including knowledge-intensive companies), with CGT deferral and loss relief. Companies can raise up to £5m per year and £12m lifetime under EIS (higher for knowledge-intensive companies). It typically follows SEIS as a company grows.
Examples
An investor puts £100k into a Series A under EIS, claiming £30k income tax relief. — A startup that has exhausted its SEIS allowance raises a further £1m under EIS.
How it relates to The Startup Foundry
Many co-funding partners in the Foundry’s network invest via EIS. The dashboard records EIS status on your reports, and the Learn/Improve modules help you become the kind of growth company EIS investors seek.