Why timing is important for VCT/EIS investment

'Cycle' begins again in September

One question advisers need to consider at this time of year, says Dermot Campbell, is whether a client really needs to invest in EIS and VCTs by 5 April or are they in a position to take a step back from the stampede?

Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS), Seed EIS (SEIS) and venture capital trusts (VCTs) are flavour of the month at this time of year.  Over the past three years, we have found that, on average, 55% of all investments in such vehicles take place during the last three months of the tax year. The big question is, however, how urgent is it to get invested? In other words, does a client need to do so by the end of the tax year or can they take a step back from the stampede? People do their tax planning at the beginning of the calendar year for different reasons. First, people need to pa...