What Is an Opportunity Zone?
Opportunity Zones (or OZs) are designated communities across America where you can invest your capital gains and pay dramatically less in taxes—or even no taxes at all. Created in 2017 and made permanent on July 4, 2025, through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the OZ program has already generated over $100 billion of investment in these communities.
Self-Directed and Simple
Unlike other tax incentives that require lengthy applications, government approvals, or complex certification processes, Opportunity Zone benefits are self-directed and immediate. You decide where to invest, when to invest, and how to structure your investment. No applications. No waiting. No bureaucracy. Just invest your capital gains in a designated zone and claim your benefits.
How It Works: Three Powerful Tax Benefits
1. Defer Your Taxes
Invest your capital gains within 180 days and postpone paying taxes until 2026 (OZ 1.0) or longer (OZ 2.0). That’s extra time for your money to grow.
2. Reduce Your Original Tax Bill
Hold your investment for 5+ years and get a 10% reduction on your original capital gains tax (available for OZ 2.0 with extended timelines).
3. Eliminate Taxes on All New Growth
This is the big one: Hold for 10+ years and pay zero taxes on all appreciation from your Opportunity Zone investment. Your profits grow completely tax-free.
See the Difference: Your Tax Savings
| Scenario | Traditional | OZ 1.0 | OZ 2.0 |
| Capital Source | Any income | Capital gains only | Capital gains only |
| Initial Tax | Due immediately | Deferred to 2026 | Deferred (extended) |
| Appreciation (10+ yrs) | 20-23.8% tax | 0% tax on appreciate value | 0% tax on appreciate value |
Why Investors Love Opportunity Zones
- Keep more of your money: Pay dramatically less in capital gains taxes, or nothing at all on appreciation.
- No red tape: Self-directed benefits mean you control the process—no applications, no approvals, no delays.
- Multiple investment options: Invest in real estate, businesses, or pooled funds—whatever fits your strategy.
- Stack your benefits: Many states offer additional tax credits on top of federal benefits.
- Make an impact: Invest in communities that need it while building wealth for yourself.
What to Know About Designated Zones
There are approximately 8,700 designated Opportunity Zones across all 50 states and U.S. territories. These zones were selected based on economic need and certified by the U.S. Treasury.
What Matters for Investors
- Secure: The program was made permanent in 2025, providing long-term certainty for your investment strategy.
- Easy to find: Use online maps (like Novogradac’s, linked below) to identify zones in your target area.
- Pre-certified: All designated zones already qualify—you don’t need to apply for zone status or get approval.
- Diverse opportunities: Zones exist in urban centers, suburbs, and rural areas—wherever economic development is needed.
Find Opportunity Zones Near You
Use Novogradac’s interactive map to explore designated Opportunity Zones across the United States. The Novogradac map allows you to:
- Search by state, county, or census tract to locate specific Opportunity Zones.
- View demographic and economic data for each zone.
- Access detailed information about zone characteristics and investment potential.
- Export data for analysis and investment planning.
Find Out More
Ready to learn more about Opportunity Zone investing? These independent resources provide comprehensive information:
- IRS Opportunity Zones – Official tax guidance, regulations, and FAQs directly from the Internal Revenue Service. Essential for understanding the technical tax requirements.
- Economic Innovation Group (EIG) – The bipartisan think tank that originally conceived Opportunity Zones in 2015. EIG provides research, data analysis, and policy insights on the program’s impact and evolution.
This article provides general information about Opportunity Zone benefits. For advice on your specific situation, please contact the author or any member of our Public Finance Practice.