VCT tax relief calculator, 2026/27

How this is calculated

Venture Capital Trusts give individual investors income tax relief of 30.0% on new share subscriptions up to £200,000 in a tax year, provided the shares are held for at least five years. The relief is deducted directly from your income tax bill for the year, not from your taxable income, so it is worth the same cash amount regardless of your marginal rate.

Unlike EIS and SEIS, VCT relief cannot be carried back to an earlier tax year, and there is no capital gains tax deferral relief available on VCT investments. However, dividends paid by the VCT on shares within the annual limit are entirely free of income tax, and any gain on eventual sale of the shares is free of capital gains tax.

Because a VCT is a pooled investment vehicle listed on the stock exchange, rather than a single trading company, it spreads risk across a portfolio of smaller, higher-risk businesses, which is reflected in typically wider bid-offer spreads and less liquidity than mainstream listed shares.

Who VCTs suit

VCTs are most often used by higher and additional rate taxpayers who have used their pension annual allowance and ISA allowance and are looking for further tax-efficient exposure to smaller UK companies, accepting materially higher risk in exchange for the relief and tax-free income.

Directors of owner-managed companies sometimes use VCTs as part of a wider personal tax planning strategy alongside EIS and SEIS, though the underlying investment risk should be assessed independently of the tax relief on offer.

Risks and restrictions

Selling VCT shares within five years of issue claws back the income tax relief originally claimed, in full or in part depending on timing, so VCTs are not suitable for money that might be needed at short notice.

VCT share prices can be volatile and the secondary market is often illiquid, meaning shares may need to be sold back to the manager at a discount to net asset value if you cannot wait for a natural buyer.

Can I claim VCT relief and EIS relief on the same money?

No, relief can only be claimed once on any given amount invested. However, you can hold separate VCT and EIS investments in the same tax year and claim relief on each, subject to their own annual limits.

What happens if I sell my VCT shares after five years?

No relief is clawed back after the five-year holding period, and any gain on sale remains free of capital gains tax, provided the shares were within your annual VCT investment limit when acquired.

Are VCT dividends always tax-free?

Dividends from VCT shares acquired within the permitted annual limit are exempt from income tax for as long as you hold the shares, with no five-year condition attached to the dividend exemption itself.

Is a VCT the same as EIS or SEIS?

No. A VCT is a single pooled, listed company investing in many smaller businesses, whereas EIS and SEIS relief applies to direct investment in individual qualifying trading companies, each with its own relief rates and rules.