The new Opportunity Zone maps taking effect in 2027

On January 1, 2027. The new zones remain in effect through December 31, 2036.

The ten-year period follows from the decennial designation cycle in §1400Z-1, which began on the July 1, 2026 determination date.^1,2 Notice 2026-40 and state guidance state the January 1, 2027 start and December 31, 2036 end.^3,4 The rolling five-year deferral and the 10% or 30% basis step-ups apply to gains invested in a QOF after December 31, 2026, so the new map and the new investment rules start together.⁵

Partly. Many states have published their nominations, but as of October 20, 2026 Treasury has not released a national list of certified zones.

Treasury opened the 90-day window on July 1, 2026, subject to a single 30-day extension, so many states filed by late September and others used the extension.^6,8 State announcements and press reports show the following slates.^9,10,11

No official count exists yet; the Economic Innovation Group projects about 6,293 designations across the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Three features of the test shape the pool: the income threshold is 70% of area median family income, the poverty prong is capped at 125% of area median, and contiguous non-low-income tracts cannot be nominated.^13,14 Novogradac notes that states are publishing resource guides as governors prepare to nominate up to 25% of their eligible low-income tracts.¹⁵ See which census tracts qualify.

Two other features shape the map. Puerto Rico is subject to the same 25% cap as the states.¹⁴ And about a third of the eligible pool (8,334 of 25,332 tracts) is wholly rural, which matters because investments through a Qualified Rural Opportunity Fund in those zones get a 30% basis step-up instead of 10%, and rural buildings need only 50% substantial improvement.^12,5 How many rural tracts each governor chose will only be clear once the certified list is out. See rural Opportunity Zones.

Match the property's 11-digit census tract number against Treasury's certified list, and use state maps only as a preview until certification.

• Treasury and the IRS announce guidance and designations on the IRS newsroom and Opportunity Zones pages.^12,17
• The CDFI Fund hosts Opportunity Zone resources and runs the nomination system.¹⁶
• State economic development agencies post their nominated tracts, as Texas, Washington, California and Florida have done.^11,10,4,18
• Research groups such as the Economic Innovation Group publish projections, which are not official counts.⁷

Multi-parcel sites need every parcel checked, because tract boundaries can split a campus. The tools and practical checks are in how to check if a property is in an Opportunity Zone and Opportunity Zone maps and data tools.

Under Notice 2026-40, it generally remains a zone through December 31, 2028, but property acquired in it after December 31, 2026 generally does not qualify.

Notice 2026-40 provides that zones in effect today generally expire December 31, 2028 (December 31, 2027 for Puerto Rico).^3,19 Property acquired after December 31, 2026 in such a tract that is not redesignated generally is not qualified opportunity zone business property. The exceptions include a working capital safe harbor plan adopted before December 31, 2026 with at least 10% of the working capital received and 5% spent by that date, and routine replacement of existing property.¹⁹ For new investments made after December 31, 2026, use the new map.

The notice is interim guidance, and Treasury has said it intends to issue proposed regulations on these rules.³ Confirm the treatment of any existing project with your tax adviser.

Lock in sites and capital with contingencies, and time investments so that 180-day windows and closings fall after certification.

Gains realized in 2026 but invested in a QOF on or after January 1, 2027, within a valid 180-day window, get the new rules: a five-year inclusion and a 10% or 30% step-up.⁵ See the 180-day rule and Opportunity Zone key dates. For data center campuses, rural tracts near transmission deserve a close look; see rural data centers and Opportunity Zones. To discuss a specific site, talk to our team.