Tax planning is evolving. Turn complexity into opportunity.
Explore how Octopus can help you stay ahead of the curve.
How Octopus Investments can support your advice business
At Octopus Investments, we’ve spent 25 years helping thousands of advisers by being the pioneer in tax-efficient investments.
Today, we’re the UK’s largest provider of BR-qualifying investments and a leader in IHT-focused solutions and venture capital trusts (VCTs) channeling investment into the ideas and industries shaping the future. Whether you’re new to tax planning or more experienced, we’re here to help—with the tools, support, and expertise to make the most of these opportunities.
Explore some of our most popular resources selected for you to get started with your clients.
Learn how BR-qualifying investments can support clients’ estate planning goals—while keeping their assets invested in the UK economy.
Business Relief explained
Investments that qualify for BR can be passed on with relief from inheritance tax upon the death of the investor, provided the shares have been owned for at least two years at that time.
Understanding Business Relief
You might have heard of Business Relief, also known as BPR or BR.
In this blog post, we cover the history and both the benefits and risks of a BR-qualifying investment.
An update following the Budget
The Chancellor’s first Budget included a clear focus on growth and set a direction for how this government intends to get there. Following a manifesto that was light on financial policy, this insight will help you recommend effective planning for clients with more certainty.
Explore our hub for tools, insights, and support to guide clients through IHT planning and access our dedicated Knowledge Base to help with estate planning.
The Knowledge Base
Deep dive with Octopus on estate planning. A suite of IHT whitepapers, webinars, tools and technical support for advisers.
Inheritance tax and Business Relief education hub
Regardless of where you are in the process of writing inheritance tax business, you’ll find something helpful here.
Ask Octopus
The estate planning helpdesk, offering technical support on all things inheritance tax and estate planning.
Our CPD-qualifying VCT Academy is a great place to start if you’re new to VCTs or want to refresh your knowledge.
Venture Capital Trusts Explained
Read about how VCTs work and the different types of VCTs available.
VCT FAQs
Our VCT FAQs guide is here to simplify the process, offering clear answers to common questions about how VCTs work, the benefits they offer, and what to consider before investing.
EIS vs VCTs
Learn more about the key differences between investing in EIS and VCTs. How do they differ? What are the risks of investing? Who invests in them?
Our products
Inheritance tax investments
Octopus Inheritance Tax Service
Our flagship service targets a steady, predictable return and has been helping investors pass on more of their wealth for over a decade.
OITSPlus
OITSPlus offers the steady returns as OITS but an added two-year insurance that covers 40% of the initial investment if the investor dies within the qualifying period.
Octopus AIM Inheritance Tax Service
This service helps investors pass on more of their wealth while targeting growth by investing in companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
Octopus AIM Inheritance Tax ISA
Investors with large ISA pots can protect more of their wealth from inheritance tax while keeping it in an ISA wrapper.
Venture Capital Trusts
Octopus Apollo VCT
Accelerating the growth of smaller business to business (B2B) software businesses. View brochure.
Octopus AIM VCTs
Investing in emerging UK companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). View brochure.
Octopus Future Generations VCT
Backing businesses that are helping to build a sustainable planet, empower people, or revitalise healthcare. View brochure.
Our investment products put capital at risk
Remember, the value of an investment, and any income derived from it, can fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the full amount they invest.
Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and could change in the future.
Tax reliefs depend on VCTs maintaining their qualifying status or portfolio companies maintaining their BR- or EIS-qualifying status.
VCT, smaller and unquoted company shares could fall or rise in value more than other shares listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. They may also be harder to sell.
An award-winning investment provider
Octopus has won numerous awards, including the Five Star Investment Provider Award at the Financial Adviser Service Awards, voted for by financial advisers, ten years running.
