New Tax Law Brings Hope to Low-Income Communities

Opportunity Zones would boost private investment in distressed regions across the country, says Sen. Tim Scott

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and President Donald Trump shake hands during a working session regarding Opportunity Zones following the recently signed tax bill at the White House on Feb. 14. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES KCNA VIA)

WASHINGTON—An unnoticed provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is designed to bring opportunity to underserved communities in the United States. The law creates a new program called “Opportunity Zones” that aims to help economically distressed areas suffering from lack of jobs and businesses.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who grew up in poverty in a single-parent household, sponsored the concept of Opportunity Zones. He introduced the bipartisan-backed Investing in Opportunity Act and made it part of Trump’s tax reform package.

“To create a brighter tomorrow for communities that have been left behind, we need to capitalize on the private-sector resources that can help boost these areas in ways we haven’t seen before,” Scott wrote in USA Today on Feb. 14.

The program offers significant tax breaks to private investment in struggling regions. It allows investors to temporarily defer capital gains recognition if they reinvest into an Opportunity Zone.

According to the estimates, U.S. investors hold nearly $2.3 trillion in unrealized capital gains in stocks and mutual funds, a significant untapped fund. If the investors reinvest these gains into qualified assets in an Opportunity Zone, then they will be able to defer their capital gains.

The program also rewards long-term investment. It offers a modest reduction in capital gains taxes on the original investment after holding qualified investments for five to seven years. And it also helps investors by exempting qualified investments held for more than 10 years from additional capital gains recognition.

The legislation also creates opportunity funds where numerous investors throughout the country can pool their funds to invest in these qualifying Opportunity Zones.

More than 52 million Americans live in a struggling community, according to the 2017 Distressed Communities Index (DCI). While many cities and towns in the United States are flourishing, these communities are left behind in terms investment and business growth. One-fifth of zip codes score worst on the DCI.

The legislation calls for governors to establish Opportunity Zones in their states. They are asked to identify a certain number of census tracts, which will be eligible to receive investment through the program over the next decade.

Every state and territory will be able to designate up to 25 percent of its census tracts. The deadline to submit recommendations is March 21 and designations will be concluded by April 30.

“Even with the healthier state of our economy and more promising job market, the unfortunate fact remains that there are neighborhoods scattered throughout every one of our 50 states where the hope of achieving the American Dream has all but disappeared,” Scott stated.

Although distressed communities are scattered throughout the country, more than half of the Americans living in such communities reside in the South, according to the DCI.

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