Can you still invest in qualified Opportunity Zones?

Yes, Qualified Opportunity Zone investing remains open. You can still direct eligible capital gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) today, and recent legislation has effectively made the program permanent rather than letting it sunset.

The rules now split into two tracks depending on when you invest. Gains invested in a QOF on or before December 31, 2026 fall under the original framework: you defer tax on the reinvested gain until the earlier of a sale or December 31, 2026, when a mandatory inclusion event forces recognition of any remaining deferred gain regardless of whether you've sold your interest. Investments made on or after January 1, 2027 follow a new structure with a rolling five-year deferral period tied to each individual investment date, plus an enhanced basis step-up for funds located in designated rural opportunity zones. In both cases, holding your interest for at least ten years still allows you to exclude post-investment appreciation from tax entirely.

Because the inclusion event and any transfer, sale, or gift of an LP interest each require establishing fair market value, QOF Valuation Group prepares USPAP-compliant valuations that account for minority interest discounts and lack of marketability specific to illiquid fund interests. If you're deciding whether an investment still makes sense for your situation, our answer on the risks of investing in a QOF covers what to weigh before committing capital, and our page on how to qualify for QoZ walks through eligibility.