CSIM
Incentive Program

Illinois Opportunity Zones

StateOpportunity Zone (Federal & State)DCEO grants + federal OZ stacking
What it is

Federal Opportunity Zone incentive: investors who reinvest capital gains through a Qualified Opportunity Fund into a designated zone receive tax reductions scaled to how long the investment is held. Illinois' current zones remain active for investment; a new round of IL-nominated zones takes effect January 1, 2027 under OZ 2.0.

Start with an address

Check an Address — Free Snapshot

Compare the geocoded point for a Chicago address with the boundary used to screen Illinois Opportunity Zones. A match is a location signal; review the current program source for the boundary's role and remaining criteria.

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Who it's for

Published criteria — confirm with Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

  • Investment must be in an Illinois-designated Opportunity Zone
  • Must invest through a Qualified Opportunity Fund
Where it applies

Illinois Opportunity Zones is screened against the Opportunity Zone (Federal & State) boundary. A geocoded point that intersects that boundary is a location signal, not a determination — review the current program source for the boundary's role and any remaining criteria. A single address can fall inside several overlapping incentive boundaries at once.

Boundaries are precise and change over time, so whether a specific address falls inside a mapped zone always depends on that exact address. The fastest way to check is to run a free snapshot for the parcel you have in mind — mapped coverage is a location signal, not an eligibility determination.

What it can support

Range on file · DCEO grants + federal OZ stacking

Current published terms as of 2026-08-09

  • +Federal capital-gains tax reduction scaled to the holding period
  • +Deferral of the original gain reinvested through a Qualified Opportunity Fund
  • +Illinois' currently designated zones remain available for investment
How to apply
  1. 1Confirm the site is in a designated zone using the U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder
  2. 2Invest through a Qualified Opportunity Fund holding at least 90% of its assets in Opportunity Zones
  3. 3Claim the benefit through IRS filings
  4. 4Watch for OZ 2.0 IL nominations (effective 1/1/2027)
Fastest first move

Email opportunityzones@illinois.gov

What you'll need
  • Federal QOF certification
  • Illinois income tax returns
  • Investment documentation
  • Property/business records in OZ census tracts
What to verify

This page is a starting point, not eligibility, legal, or tax advice. Verify current requirements, deadlines, and boundaries with the administering agency before applying or spending money — program rules and funding change over time.

Official source & contacts
Official program source ↗
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

Last verified 2026-08-09

Start with an address

Check an Address — Free Snapshot

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