Should I diversify further?

No, sorry, I've not been clear. You can't carry it forward either, but many application forms allow you to split it across two years. Sometimes there is a minimum of, say, £5,000, but you can do (on the same form) £2,500 this year and £2,500 next year, but the payment for both goes with the application form and the year is fixed.

Whats the earliest you can fill in a Self Assessment Tax Return online?

Also I am guessing that it won't let you submit unless you have already submitted for previous year - eg. if your not submitting till Jan 2016 for 14/15, it won't let you start completing 15/16 till you have submitted 14/15 

I don't know the strict earliest but you certainly can do it on the day the new tax year starts. I don't currently see an option to start for 2015/16 online even though it is possible to save returns without submitting them. I assume that at the earliest it won't be available until after the Autumn Statement that may change some rules for the current year.

You can use estimates for numbers that you don't know and tell HMRC which numbers are estimates. There's a check box to say that the return contains estimated numbers. Once you get final numbers you can amend as needed and submit that amended version, either with no estimates or still with some. HMRC was in my case happy enough refunding me many thousands of Pounds in VCT relief based on an estimated return done just after the start of the current tax year. You can do an online amendment until 12 months after the 31 January following the end of the relevant tax year, that is 12 months after the usual filing deadline. At the moment I have online options that allow me to file amended tax returns for 2013/14 or 2014/15 but not the now-expired 2012/13. The "Tax return options" screen where you can see these tells you the online deadline for each year when you select it.

Estimates are also how you can avoid penalties for late filing if you leave it to the last minute. Just file with estimated values for anything you don't know and you avoid the penalty for late filing.

HMRC knows that an estimate is an estimate, not a guarantee. Options can include:

1. Assuming that you'll maintain about the same amounts invested at about the same rates even if the underlying loans and platforms change.
2. Using projected interest flows for platforms that provide this information. Bondora does though not particularly accurately. You estimate exchange rates as well if necessary.
3. You use your judgement to work out what seems like a sensible way to handle each case with the objective of minimising the error in the estimate.

I use a mixture of those approaches depending on the particular income type involved.

Spoke with H&L and they said the Albion VCT will be available through them shortly (didn't specify how long 'shortly' is though)

They also gave the following details:

Amount seeking: £25.5 million

Minimum investment: £6,000



Initial charge: 3%

Initial discount: 0%

‘Early bird’: 1% for existing investors in any Albion VCT, 0.5% for new investors (for applications accepted before 29 January 2016)



Net initial charge for existing investors: 2% before 29 January 2016, 3% thereafter (so total discount 1%, then 0%)

Net initial charge for new investors: 2.5% before 29 January 2016, 3% thereafter (so total discount 0.5%, then 0%)


So would H&L be cheaper than buying direct?