The Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) program offers tax breaks on capital gains from eligible long-term investments in designated low-income and rural communities. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the QOZ program permanent and established a new 10-year designation cycle. The IRS has issued guidance on how to nominate population census tracts for designation as QOZs. The next round of QOZs will be effective from Jan. 1, 2027, to Dec. 31, 2036. Generally, state and territory governors can begin nominating eligible census tracts for QOZ designation on July 1, 2026. The nomination period lasts 90 days, with the option of a single 30-day extension. Contact us for additional details.