From 6 April 2026 the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme qualifies far larger companies: the gross-assets test rises from £30m to £120m, the employee cap from 250 to 500 full-time equivalents, and the company-wide EMI share-option limit doubles from £3m to £6m. The maximum period to exercise options also extends from 10 to 15 years, applying to existing unexercised options too; the individual employee limit stays at £250,000. Changes were announced at Autumn Budget 2025.
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EMI share-option limits expanded from 6 April 2026: gross assets cap up to £120m
Why this matters for founders
Founders can now grant tax-advantaged EMI options to attract and retain talent even as they scale past prior thresholds, and can offer longer exercise windows without losing the CGT-friendly treatment. Review your share scheme and cap table with an adviser before issuing new grants after 6 April 2026.
Source: Saffery
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