Opportunity Zones

Contact

Economic Development Department
Frost Bank Tower
100 West Houston Street, 19th Floor
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone
210.207.8080

Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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New Online Mapping Tool!

EDD has created a new GIS mapping tool that allows site visitors to search for properties and/or land in opportunity zones and understand nearby zoning and land use, available city incentives for development, and approved bond projects and public improvements.

Opportunity Zones Mapping Tool

The Opportunity Zones investment tool is a federal tax incentive established by the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017 to foster economic inclusive growth by encouraging long-term investment of unrealized capital gains in designated opportunity zones (census tracts) in exchange for deferment and reduction of capital gains taxes. All investments seeking to benefit from the tax advantages of opportunity zones must be made through creation of a Qualified Opportunity Fund (certified by the IRS).

On March 21, 2018, Governor Abbott designated 628 census tracts in Texas as Opportunity Zones, which were later certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury on April 18, 2018. Within Bexar County, there are 24 designated tracts making San Antonio the city with the second most opportunity zones in Texas following Houston and Harris County. Qualified Opportunity Funds can invest in a multitude of eligible real estate and operating business projects. Investors should refer to the IRS Frequently Asked Questions and Department of Treasury regulations for more information. 

Investor benefits include:

  • Deferral of capital gains tax until 2026;
  • Reduction of tax liability on deferred capital gains
    • 10% if the investment is held at least 5 years
    • 15% if the investment is held at least 7 years
  • Tax exemption on appreciation of the invested gains if held for at least 10 years.

LOCAL INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

The City of San Antonio offers several Incentive Programs for development and business investment such as Tax Abatement, Fee Waiver Program, Center City Housing Incentive Policy and Tax Increment Financing. Please visit the Program’s site for more information.

The City of San Antonio is committed to maximizing outcomes for our community and is actively engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders to provide information and coordinate projects in Opportunity Zones. The Economic Development Department has assigned an Opportunity Zones Manager to lead the City’s strategy and serve as a liaison to Opportunity Zones projects to ensure efficiency and ease in navigating city processes.

There are a number of online resources to learn more about Opportunity Zones. Please find below links to the IRS, U.S. Department of Treasury and the Economic Innovation Group Opportunity Zones resources.