Compared to recent offerings, the Autumn Statement provided relatively few announcements on taxation.
Potentially the most interesting from a planning perspective is the new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) which is designed to encourage investment in new start-up companies. The new scheme will provide income tax relief of 50 per cent for individuals who invest in shares in qualifying companies (limited to £100,000 per year). This compares to 30% relief in standard EIS companies.
There will also be a ‘capital gains tax holiday’ for investments made in the new scheme. This will provide for a CGT exemption on gains on the disposal of an asset in 2012-13 which are invested through SEIS in the same year.
More details are likely to follow in December.