How Can I Check If I Have SEIS Advanced Assurance?

Getting HMRC’s Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) advance assurance letter is essential because it proves your proposed share issue meets the scheme’s conditions. Without a written letter, you cannot promise SEIS tax relief to investors, and verbal confirmations or acknowledgements are not sufficient. Many founders misplace the letter or assume that Enterprise Investment Scheme approval covers SEIS when it does not. This guide explains how to check SEIS advance assurance, how to recognise a genuine letter, and what to do if you can’t locate one. It also shows how Undo Capital’s automated platform helps you manage applications and reapply when circumstances change.

SEIS advance assurance is discretionary: HMRC issues it only when your application is complete, and the company appears to meet the scheme’s rules. The letter arrives by email and must carry the HMRC letterhead, an application reference and wording that your company “appears to meet the requirements for SEIS”. Anything less, such as a receipt, is not valid. The sections below describe what a genuine assurance letter looks like, how to search for it, ways to verify its ongoing validity and how Undo Capital keeps your documents organised.

What SEIS Advance Assurance Looks Like?

HMRC’s advance assurance letter is the only reliable proof that your company has provisional SEIS approval. Following online submission via HMRC's portal, the decision letter is delivered by post to your registered address and includes several unmistakable features:

• Official letterhead and email signature. The letter comes from the Venture Capital Reliefs Team and displays the HMRC crest. It references both the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Enterprise Investment Scheme when combined assurance is granted.
• Clear statement of eligibility. HMRC considers that the company appears to meet the requirements for SEIS, or similar wording. It reminds recipients that the assurance is provisional and depends on the accuracy of the information submitted.
• Reference number and date. HMRC includes an application reference and the date of issue, which you will need when investors request proof. The letter also sets out conditions such as issuing SEIS shares before any EIS shares and filing SEIS1 compliance statements.
• Warning about limitations. The letter emphasises that the assurance is not a guarantee of tax relief; investors must still meet their own criteria, and changes in law or the company’s circumstances may affect eligibility.

What is not a Valid Approval?

• Acknowledgement emails. HMRC sends an automatic receipt when you submit an application. This is not an assurance letter and cannot be shown to investors.
• Verbal confirmation. A phone conversation or an informal email from an advisor is not sufficient. Only the written letter counts.
• EIS-only approval. Some companies receive Enterprise Investment Scheme advance assurance but not SEIS. An EIS approval letter does not cover SEIS; your letter must explicitly mention “SEIS” to count.
• Outdated letter after structural changes. The assurance relates to the specific investment described in your application; significant changes to your business plan, share structure or investor list may invalidate the letter.

Valid vs Invalid Signs of SEIS Advance Assurance

The above checklist helps you quickly determine whether what you have is a genuine SEIS advance assurance confirmation. If you cannot find the letter, follow the steps in the next section.

How to Check Whether You Already Have SEIS Advance Assurance?

Finding SEIS advance assurance involves systematically searching your own records and those of your advisors.

Step 1: Search HMRC Correspondence

Search the inbox used to apply, whether a director’s, accountant’s or finance address, for subject lines mentioning “Advance Assurance” or “Venture Capital Reliefs.” HMRC typically responds within 4-6 weeks, though straightforward applications with complete documentation often receive decisions in 2-4 weeks. Check both your email for queries from HMRC and your postal mail for the formal decision letter. Ask your accountant or platform provider to forward any reply.

Step 2: Check Your Data Room

Look in your data room, cap table folder or legal archive for the assurance letter. Consolidate copies from co‑founders and advisors to avoid misplacing your SEIS advance assurance documents.

Step 3: Confirm with Your Accountant or Legal Advisor

If an adviser submitted the application, request the letter and confirm it covers SEIS rather than just EIS. Provide your company name and Unique Tax Reference to assist their search.

Step 4: Review the Assurance Letter

Once found, check that the letter explicitly refers to SEIS and includes conditions such as issuing SEIS shares before any EIS shares.

How to Verify that Your SEIS Advance Assurance is Still Valid?

Although the assurance letter has no fixed expiry date, it applies only if your company’s circumstances match those described in your application. Investors typically expect a letter less than 12 months old, and HMRC states that material changes require a new application. To confirm your SEIS assurance status:

• Issue date: Letters over a year old may seem stale; investors often ask for updated assurance. Consider reapplying or contacting HMRC for SEIS advance assurance confirmation.
• Business and funding plans: Ensure your trade, use of funds, share structure, articles and cap table still match the application. Pivoting into excluded activities such as financial services or property development, introducing preference shares or changing ownership above 30% can invalidate the assurance.
• Share issuance sequencing: SEIS shares must be issued before EIS shares, and you must file a SEIS1 after allotment. Issuing EIS shares first or failing to submit compliance forms can invalidate relief; verify compliance or reapply if necessary.

What if You Cannot Find Your SEIS Advance Assurance?

Missing SEIS advance assurance creates risk, as investors rely on clear HMRC confirmation before committing funds. Below, we explain what to do when you cannot find your SEIS advance assurance letter.

Check Whether a Submission was Ever Made

If you can’t locate a letter, first determine whether the company actually applied. SEIS advance assurance is not automatic; you must complete HMRC’s online form and provide supporting documents. Swoop’s guide reminds founders that if they have not applied, they do not have advance assurance; if they have applied and there has been no response, they can contact HMRC for an update. Ask your accountant or legal adviser to confirm whether a submission was filed. If not, begin preparing a new application rather than continuing the search.

Request the Information from HMRC

If you applied but never received a letter or misplaced it, contact HMRC’s Venture Capital Reliefs Team. Email enterprise.centre@hmrc.gov.uk, call 0300 123 3440 or write to HMRC, BX9 1BN, providing your company name, UTR and approximate application date. HMRC may take a few weeks to respond, so follow up after seven weeks, and request a duplicate letter if your application was processed.

When You Should Reapply

Reapply if the letter is more than 12 months old, cannot be located, your business circumstances have changed, or you are raising funds under new terms. HMRC typically takes four to eight weeks to respond to complete applications, so plan accordingly.

Common Misunderstandings about SEIS Advance Assurance

Understanding what advance assurance does and does not do helps you avoid costly mistakes. Common myths include:

• Acknowledgement emails aren’t approval: HMRC’s receipt merely confirms that your application was received; only the signed letter with a reference number counts.
• EIS approval is not SEIS approval: The Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme have different age limits and relief rates. You must obtain SEIS‑specific advance assurance even if you already have EIS approval.
• Approval is conditional: HMRC’s assurance is provisional and relates only to the facts in your application. Material changes to your business plan or share structure mean you need to reapply.

How Undo Capital Helps Track and Manage SEIS Advance Assurance

Managing SEIS/EIS paperwork is time‑consuming. Undo Capital offers an integrated platform that automates fundraising and compliance tasks:

• Automates HMRC applications with smart forms and AI‑powered validation.
• Generates funding‑round documents, share certificates and compliance statements.
• Maintains a clean cap table and monitors investor eligibility, cross‑checking documents to flag inconsistencies.
• Centralises document storage and alerts you when you need to reapply, so you never lose your SEIS advance assurance documents.

By centralising these functions, Undo Capital reduces the likelihood of application rejection and saves time. For more guidance on preparing a strong application, explore Undo Capital’s resources on advance assurance rejections and how to avoid them, why advance assurance matters before raising funds and eligibility criteria explained for founders. Each guide offers practical tips and shows how Undo Capital automates the compliance process.

Why Confirming Your SEIS Advance Assurance Matters?

‍

Confirming your SEIS advance assurance is essential before issuing shares or promising tax relief to investors. The only valid confirmation is the HMRC letter; acknowledgements and verbal assurances do not suffice. If you can’t find the letter, search your email, data room and adviser’s correspondence; contact HMRC if necessary. Remember that while SEIS advance assurance does not expire, it is tied to the circumstances in your application. Changes in your trade, share structure or investors may require reapplication.

For busy founders, keeping track of SEIS advance assurance documents, cap tables, and compliance deadlines can be overwhelming. Platforms like Undo Capital centralise these tasks, automate eligibility checks and ensure that you have the right documentation when investors ask. Maintaining a well‑organised archive not only helps you respond quickly to investor due diligence but also demonstrates your professionalism and commitment to compliance. 

To move forward, review your current assurance letter and confirm its validity; if you need to reapply, gather your business plan, cap table and investor details well in advance. Finally, consider adopting tools like Undo Capital to manage your next funding round with confidence and precision.

‍