Treasury and IRS finalize 6,576 new Opportunity Zones

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced the finalization of 6,576 new Qualified Opportunity Zones on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. These designations were selected from a pool of 25,332 initially eligible census tracts and are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

Of the newly designated zones, 2,594 are situated in rural communities and will qualify for enhanced tax incentives. The program, which has generated more than $110 billion in private-sector investment since its 2017 inception, will see these zones remain in place for a 10-year term through the end of 2036.

The current designations follow the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted on July 4, 2025, which permanently renewed and redesigned the program. The nomination process for this latest round of zones began on July 1, 2026.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the permanent renewal provides investors with the long-term certainty necessary to commit capital to historically overlooked communities. IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano added that the expansion will assist states in attracting investment to underserved, rural and economically distressed areas.

The program establishes a formal process to redesignate opportunity zones every 10 years, ensuring a recurring cycle of review for the initiative.