EIS deferral relief

Capital gains tax arising on the disposal of any type of asset can be deferred by a subscription for EIS shares. To qualify for the relief the investment must be made during a period covering one year before the gain arose and three years thereafter.

The tax on any gain deferred in this way only becomes due on the subsequent disposal of the EIS shares or if the investor ceases to be UK resident within three years of issue of the shares. However, the gain can be deferred again by using the sale proceeds to make another EIS subscription.

There is no limit on the amount that can be invested in EIS shares but only the first £1,000,000 investment in a tax year will be entitled to income tax relief at up to 30% (for 2017-18).

With effect from 6 April 2016 dividends and bank and building society interest are paid gross

…and, from 6 April 2017 interest payments from OEICs, authorised UTs, investment trusts and peer-to-peer loans are also paid gross. All individual taxpayers (so not trustees) are entitled to a £2,000 dividend allowance (was £5,000 in 2017/18) and to a personal savings allowance of £1,000 (basic rate taxpayer) or £500 (higher ratetaxpayer). On income in excess of these allowances basic rate for dividends is 7.5%, higher rate is 32.5% and additional rate and trust rate is 38.1%. Equivalent income tax rates on savings income are 20%, 40% and 45%.