Advisers welcome relaxation of VCT and EIS investment rules

Fresh rules for investing in Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs) – announced in last month’s Autumn Statement – have formed what the Chancellor hopes will be a boost for beleaguered small businesses. Osborne scrapped the £1m investment limit per company for VCTs while, from April 2012, the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) will launch, with those investing up to £100,000 in shares in a qualifying start up business entitled to income tax relief of 50%, regardless of the tax rate they pay. Matthew Woodbridge, head of investment products at Chels...