Enterprise Investment Schemes are specialist tax efficient vehicles that tend to be suitable for those with high-risk tolerances.

The main benefits:

• 30% income tax relief

• Capital gains from 1 year before and 3 years after can be deferred

• No capital gains tax

• Capital gains loss relief available

• Qualifies for Business Relief after 2 years, therefore not subject to inheritance tax

• You can use allowances from previous years

• The investment needs to be held for 3 years to retain more tax reliefs

Whilst EIS invest in early stage companies, some successes have grown to over £1 billion in value.