EIIS Tax Relief Fund 2026

EIIS 2026 tax year deadline

The Fund closes 31 December. Invest in time for relief on your 2026 tax bill.

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The BVP 2026 EII Fund, our 20th EIIS fund, is open until 31 December 2026. It invests in 6 to 9 growing Irish companies and offers up to 50% income tax relief, minimum 35% based on the blended relief across the portfolio, with no annual management charge. Since our first fund in 2007, we have backed 80+ Irish companies across 118+ deals, and we report results to investors fund by fund.

What is the EIIS scheme? The Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS) is an Irish Government scheme that gives income tax relief to individuals who invest in qualifying Irish small and medium-sized companies. Relief is available at 20%, 35% or 50%, depending on the company, and shares must be held for at least four years.

Why BVP

Why invest in an EIIS fund with BVP?

Choosing the right manager matters as much as choosing EIIS itself. Here is how we hold your money, select investments and report to you.

Held by an independent trustee. Investor funds and shares are held by IQ EQ Trust Company (Ireland) Limited, an independent trustee regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, separately from BVP. This does not protect you against losses in the companies the Fund invests in.

We report on every investment. Investors receive fund-by-fund reporting, including investments that did not work out, through half-yearly reports and the Members Portal.

Investor rights in each deal. Every investment passes formal stage gates and our Investment Committee. Equity investments typically include drag and tag rights, anti-dilution protection and a board or observer seat.

Proven exits. Kinzen (acquired by Spotify, 3x capital returned), Johnson Hana (2.2x) and Vizor Technology (acquired by Analog Devices). Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.

Regulated and experienced. BVP Investments Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Our senior team has 20+ years in Irish venture capital, backing companies across renewable energy, technology, healthcare and services. Meet the team.

Want to see what your relief could be? Use our EIIS tax relief calculator on eiisireland.ie.

See what you could save

Enter your income and investment amount to estimate your own tax relief and net cost in under a minute.

Watch

Six questions every EIIS investor should ask

BVP CFO Stephen Tully joins the Informed Decisions podcast to answer the questions every investor should ask before investing in EIIS.

Prefer to read? See the answers in full, or watch how EIIS works, explained with PwC.

Tax relief explained

How much EIIS tax relief can I claim?

EII relief is a deduction from your total income. What it is worth depends on the type of company invested in and your tax rate. For an investor paying income tax at 40%:

Type of company	Deduction from income	Worth at 40% tax
Not yet operating in any market	125% of the amount invested	50%
Within 7 years of first commercial sale or 10 years of incorporation	87.5% of the amount invested	35%
Expansion or follow-on finance	50% of the amount invested	20%

The BVP 2026 EII Fund offers up to 50% relief, minimum 35% based on the blended relief across its 6 to 9 companies. Actual relief depends on how each company is categorised.

Worked example at 35% relief

You invest	Commission (3%)	Total paid	Relief at 35%	Net cost
€10,000	€300	€10,300	€3,500	€6,800
€25,000	€750	€25,750	€8,750	€17,000
€50,000	€1,500	€51,500	€17,500	€34,000
€100,000	€3,000	€103,000	€35,000	€68,000

Illustrative only. Assumes the Fund achieves 35% blended relief and that you have enough income taxed at 40% to use it. Relief applies to the amount invested in qualifying companies, not to the 3% commission. Tax relief depends on your circumstances and Revenue rules. Capital at risk.

What income can I claim it against?

Your income tax for the year you invest, including PAYE earnings, rental income in your own name, investment income such as dividends, and pension or ARF income. EII relief reduces income tax only, not USC or PRSI.

When and how do I claim?

Invest by 31 December 2026 and the relief applies to your 2026 tax year. BVP expects to issue your EII certificate within twelve months of the Fund completing its investments. You then claim on Form 11 through ROS, or Form 12 through myAccount. Unused relief can be carried forward to later years.

Tax relief depends on your individual circumstances and Revenue rules. Capital at risk. Speak to your tax adviser.

Calculate your own tax saving →

Investment highlights

Five reasons to invest in the 2026 Fund

Up to 50% income tax relief, minimum 35% based on the blended relief across the portfolio, backed by 20 funds of experience.

View the 2026 Fund brochure →

Targeting at least 35% Tax Relief

The Fund targets at least 35% blended income tax relief, with up to 50% on qualifying early-stage companies. Unused relief can be carried forward.

No Annual Management Charge

A one-off 3% commission and no annual management charge, so more of your money stays invested.

Real Exits

BVP-backed companies have been acquired by Spotify (Kinzen) and Nasdaq-listed Analog Devices (Vizor Technology). Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.

20 Funds of Experience

The 2026 Fund is our 20th, building on 118+ deals across 80+ Irish companies since 2007.

Full Transparency

A Members Portal, half-yearly reports and quarterly webinars keep you informed from investment to exit.

Our track record

20 funds. Two decades of backing Irish growth.

€92.1m

EIIS capital raised across our funds

80+

Irish companies backed, with 118+ deals completed

2007

Our first fund. The 2026 Fund is our 20th.

2026 EIIS Target List

The BVP 2026 EII Fund, our 20th EIIS fund, will invest in a portfolio of six to nine Irish companies. The following are the 10 companies currently under review, across renewable energy, technology, healthcare and services and indicative only of the portfolio. Relief is up to 50%, minimum 35% based on the blended relief across the portfolio, with individual company reliefs from 20% to 50%.

Renewable Energy: Utility-Scale Solar

Early stage

50% tax relief

Two solar farms side by side in the Irish Midlands, producing clean electricity for the national grid. Led by an experienced Irish developer.

Industrial Optimisation

Revenue-generating

35% tax relief

Software that helps factory robots work smarter, so production lines keep moving and get more out of existing machines. Already used by major car makers.

Sports Analytics: AI Data Platform

Revenue-generating

35% tax relief

Platform that keeps a sports team’s player information, like fitness and injuries, in one place so coaches get quick answers. National sporting bodies are paying customers.

MedTech: Diagnostics

Early stage

50% tax relief

A wearable device being developed to warn people with epilepsy before a seizure, giving them time to get somewhere safe. Led by founders who have built and sold companies before.

Early Years Childcare

Early stage

50% tax relief

A growing group of modern, high-quality crèches in Ireland, opening new sites to provide more childcare options to parents.

Building Energy Retrofit

Early stage

35% tax relief

A platform that helps owners of office and commercial buildings cut their energy use, connecting them with installers and finance to pay for upgrades.

HealthTech: ADHD and Autism Care

Revenue-generating

35% tax relief

Software that speeds up ADHD and autism assessments by connecting doctors, parents and teachers. Used by public health services in Ireland and the UK.

CleanTech: Energy Management

Growth

35% tax relief

Smart software that controls solar panels and batteries to cut energy bills and emissions, used at sites across Ireland and Europe.

Circular Economy: Waste and Recycling Software

Growth

35% tax relief

Software that runs bin and recycling collections more efficiently, used by councils, universities and recycling companies in Europe, Australia and North America.

Deep Tech: Emotion-Aware Voice AI

Early stage

50% tax relief

Makes computer voices sound more human by picking up on and expressing emotion. It can be used to re-voice films and games in other languages.

Please note this list illustrates prospects only. These companies are under review and there is no guarantee the BVP 2026 EII Fund will invest in any of them. Final selection is subject to due diligence and investment committee approval. Capital at risk.

What is EIIS? 01

The Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS), known to Revenue as the Employment and Investment Incentive (EII), is an Irish government scheme that gives individuals income tax relief for investing in qualifying Irish SMEs. It supports early-stage and growing companies, job creation and economic development.

What is the term of an EIIS investment? 02

Shares must be held for at least four years to keep the tax relief. The BVP 2026 EII Fund has an expected term of 4 to 7 years, as money is returned when investee companies exit. Exits can come earlier or later, so treat it as a medium to long-term investment.

How much can I invest? 03

The minimum investment in the BVP 2026 EII Fund is €10,000 and the maximum is €1 million.

What tax relief can I get? 04

EII relief is a deduction from your total income. For an investor paying 40% income tax, it is worth 50% for companies not yet operating in any market, 35% for companies within 7 years of first commercial sale or 10 years of incorporation, and 20% for expansion or follow-on finance. The BVP 2026 EII Fund targets blended relief of at least 35%. Actual relief depends on how each company is categorised and on your tax position.

What types of income qualify for EIIS tax relief? 05

Relief is set against your income tax for the year you invest, including PAYE earnings, rental income from property in your own name, investment income such as dividends and deposit interest, and pension or ARF income. It reduces income tax only, not USC or PRSI.

Who selects the investee companies? 06

BVP’s investment team carries out due diligence on every company, and each investment passes formal stage gates and our Investment Committee. The Fund typically invests in 6 to 9 growing Irish companies.

Can I expect a return above my tax relief? 07

We target a 15% IRR including tax relief.

Our realised IRR on investments since 2020 is around 12 to 13%. In venture investing, weaker companies tend to fail or exit early, while the strongest usually take longer to mature and exit. Returns therefore typically improve as a portfolio matures, and our target reflects that expected improvement over the life of the Fund. It is a target, not a forecast or a guarantee, and you may lose some or all of your investment.

What does EIIS stand for? 08

Employment and Investment Incentive Scheme. Revenue calls it the Employment and Investment Incentive (EII).

What are the main risks of EIIS investments? 09

Your capital is at risk. Investments are in unquoted, early-stage and growing companies, are illiquid, carry a minimum 4-year holding period and have no early exit for investors. Relief can be withdrawn in some cases, for example if an investee company exits within four years. Read the Information Memorandum for the full list of risks.

Who can invest in the BVP 2026 EII Fund? 10

Any individual with an Irish income tax liability, whether PAYE or self-assessed, subject to suitability and eligibility checks. Speak to your tax adviser about your own position.

How do I claim my tax relief? 11

BVP issues your EII certificate, which we expect within twelve months of the Fund completing its investments. You then claim on Form 11 through ROS or Form 12 through myAccount. Relief applies to the tax year in which you invest.

Is my capital guaranteed? 12

No. Capital is at risk and you may lose some or all of your investment. Read the Information Memorandum, available when you register your interest, and take independent advice.

Can I carry forward unused EIIS relief? 13

Yes. If you cannot use all your relief in the year you invest, the unused relief can be carried forward and set against income tax in later years. Confirm your position with your tax adviser.

When is the deadline to invest for this year’s tax relief? 14

The BVP 2026 EII Fund closes on 31 December 2026. Invest before then to claim relief against your 2026 income tax.

Can I withdraw my investment after the 4-year minimum holding period? 15

There is no early exit mechanism. Money is returned as each investee company exits, typically within 4 to 7 years.

Closes 31 December 2026

Register for the 2026 Fund

Leave your details and a member of the BVP team will be in touch about the BVP 2026 EII Fund.

Capital at risk. Read the Information Memorandum before investing.