Tag: Opportunity zone

Opportunity Zones: The Basics

What are opportunity zones?

Opportunity zones were created by congress as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to spur economic growth in economically distressed communities. In April of 2018, Gov. Asa Hutchinson proposed 85 tracts around the state be designated as official Opportunity Zones in Arkansas. By December of that year, the US Department of the Treasury confirmed this proposal and all 85 tracts were designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). There are more than 8,700 designated zones nationwide that provide tax incentives for private investment in low-income communities. Opportunity Zone properties around the state vary greatly. They include urban/downtown, industrial, suburban, and rural areas—but each QOZ shares the same need of a spur in economic growth and job creation. Click here to view an interactive map of opportunity zones in Arkansas.

How do they work?

Investors who wish to take advantage of this program have 180 days to reinvest any prior eligible capital gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) and by doing so, they receive several tax incentives on those gains. The QOF is created to invest in an opportunity zone property with at least 90 percent of its assets dedicated to the QOZ. By reinvesting all or a portion of their gains into a QOF, the investor’s capital gains tax may be deferred until the sale of the QOZ investment or until December 31, 2026, whichever comes first. If the QOZ is held for five years, the investor will benefit from a 10% exclusion of the deferred gain; holding it for seven years will increase the exclusion to 15%. Investors who hold the QOZ for at least 10 years will eliminate paying a capital gains tax on appreciation of the QOZ property.

Who benefits?

Investors benefit from the preferential tax treatment while communities benefit from property improvements, job creation, and new businesses. Small businesses operating in the opportunity zone may also benefit with an equity investment from a QOF. There are requirements that must be met to qualify as an Opportunity Zone Business (QOZB), which are outlined in detail in the New Proposed Regulations.

The Opportunity Zones program is a unique and effective economic development tool and an important part of making our communities and neighborhoods stronger, safer, and more economically healthy. As Opportunity Zones grow and prosper, the communities around them reap the benefits, which in turn, benefits everyone.

Learn more:

IRS: Opportunity Zones

Arkansas Economic Opportunity Zones

The information provided here in is not to be construed or relied upon as legal or tax advice.

 

Opportunity zone task force named; 20 people are selected by Little Rock mayor

by Rachel Herzog | August 10, 2019 at 2:26 a.m.

ArkansasOnline.com

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. has named 20 people to serve on a task force that will work on helping the city to leverage its opportunity zones.

The team of developers, bankers and civic leaders will study how the city can attract investors to the federally designated economically distressed census tracts in Little Rock where new investments can be eligible for preferential tax treatment, a federal initiative that came with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Arkansas Opportunity Zone Selection (2018.4.20 update)

At a panel discussion that hosted officials from Washington, D.C., on Monday, Scott said encouraging investment in opportunity zones is one way to revitalize disadvantaged areas.

The task force will be chaired by Will Rockefeller of the Winrock Group. Martie North Hamilton, director of community development at Simmons Bank, will serve as a co-chair, according to a news release from the city.

The committee also includes:

• Regina Favors, interim president of Arkansas Baptist College

• Lisa Ferrell, developer

• Merritt Dake, CEO of Rock Dental Brands

• Virgil Miller, banker at Arvest Bank

• Angel Burt, vice president of the Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association

• Kevin Huchingson, CEO of Colliers International, Arkansas office

• Shawn Govind, director of real estate development for the Pinnacle Hotel Group

• Leslie Lane, president of Arkansas Capital Corporation Group

• Ivan Hudson, insurance agent

• Tristan Wilkerson, managing principal at Think Rubix LLC

Lee Hastings IV, agent with Flake and Kelley Commercial

• Chris Moses, developer

• Jill Floyd, member of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission

• Richard Mays, anonymous lawyer

• Nathan Rutledge, senior management director of Crews & Associates

• Ted Dickey, investment fund founder

• Patrick Schueck, vice president of Lexicon Inc.

• Pam Courtney, developer

Opportunity zones offer investment opportunity

Opportunity zone map

AEDC Map of Nominated Opportunity Zones

 

In April of 2018, Gov. Asa Hutchinson nominated 85 Opportunity Zones in Arkansas (the maximum eligible tracts) to the US Department of the Treasury. All 85 tracts were designated Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) in December 2018. This designation provides tax incentives for private investment in low-income communities nationwide. An article published by The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), The Counselor magazine, describes some of those incentives in more detail.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported new rules from the administration were released Wednesday stating investors will have several ways to qualify for tax breaks.

“We’re delighted to have the opportunity zone designations in Arkansas and are confident they will make a difference in reinvestment in these areas of the state,” said Hank Kelley, CEO.

If you are interested to know whether your property is part of an opportunity zone or would like to learn more about investing in an opportunity zone in Arkansas, contact Hank Kelley today.