Novogradac Releases OZ 2.0 Mapping Tool After Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

New OZ 2.0 Mapping Tool Projects OZ Eligibility Using Current Data

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Novogradac has created a new Novogradac Opportunity Zones 2.0 Mapping Tool to show census tracts that are likely to be eligible for opportunity zones (OZ) designation after President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law July 4. The bill made the OZ incentive a permanent part of the tax code, which will result in a new round of OZ designations effective Jan. 1, 2027.

"This new mapping tool will allow OZ stakeholders to see whether census tracts will likely be eligible for OZ designation and whether the tracts will likely be considered rural," said Jason Watkins, a partner in Novogradac's Atlanta office and leader of the Novogradac Opportunity Zones Working Group. "We're looking forward to the possibilities OZ permanence brings for communities across America and this tool will help users begin making preliminary plans."

The process for nominating and designating the next set of OZs officially begins July 1, 2026, when governors will have up to 120 days to nominate low-income census tracts to be OZs.  Following nominations, the secretary of the Treasury will have up to 60 days to designate the census tracts as OZs. The criteria for eligibility have tightened for the upcoming round of OZ designations compared to what was used for the initial round of designations in 2018. Community stakeholders are encouraged to use the new OZ 2.0 mapping tool to see what has changed. 

Novogradac's new map lists census tracts as "likely eligible" and "likely not eligible" in accordance with the latest census-tract level data available. It is expected that Treasury will use yet-to-be-released data for the actual designation process in 2026 at which time this mapping tool will be updated. The specific census tract categories listed in the Novogradac map include:

• "Likely Not Eligible"–the census tract is not likely to meet the tightened OZ eligibility requirements.
• "Likely Eligible, Likely Not Rural"–the census tract is likely eligible for OZ designation and some or all of the tract is in a city or town with a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.
• "Likely Eligible, Likely Rural"–the census tract is likely eligible for OZ designation and no part of the tract is located in or contiguous/adjacent to a city or town with a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.
• "Likely Eligible, Potentially Rural"–the census tract is likely eligible for OZ designation and some part of the census tract is contiguous/adjacent to a city or town with a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.
• "Insufficient Data"–there are a handful of census tracts for which data is not yet available.

About Novogradac
Novogradac, which has been in business for nearly 36 years, has grown to more than 1,000 employees and partners with offices in more than 25 cities. Tax, audit and consulting specialty practice areas for Novogradac include OZs, affordable housing, community development, historic rehabilitation and renewable energy. For additional information on Novogradac's personnel and areas of expertise, visit www.novoco.com or call (415) 356-8000.

SOURCE Novogradac & Company LLP