The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) yesterday issued broad relief for Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds and their investors in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  (IRS news release, June 4) IRS Notice 2020-39 includes five helpful changes and clarifications to the current rules governing the capitalization and operation of opportunity funds.  The Roundtable’s Opportunity Zone Working Group has strongly supported greater flexibility in the Opportunity Zone rules to ensure that capital investment continues to flow to hard-hit, low-income communities during the economic crisis brought about by COVID-19. Under the new guidance:

1. if the 180-day investment period to roll gain into an opportunity fund would have expired between 4/1/20 and 12/31/20, the deadline is now extended to 12/31/20;

2. if an opportunity has a compliance date for the 90% investment asset test that falls between 4/1/20 and 12/31/20, failure to comply is automatically excused under the reasonable cause exception;

3. the 30-month substantial improvement period for real property owned by an opportunity fund or opportunity zone business from 4/1/20 through 12/31/20 is disregarded;

4. the IRS has clarified that the working capital safe harbor for opportunity fund working capital assets is extended under the President’s emergency declaration by 24 months (for a total period of 55 months) if the working capital is held by the fund before 12/31/20 and the other requirements for the safe harbor are met; and

5. the 12-month period for an opportunity fund to reinvest proceeds from the return of capital or disposition of property is extended by an additional 12 months if the original period included 1/20/20, the date of FEMA’s major disaster declaration and other requirements are met.

Additionally, the IRS has updated their Qualified Opportunity Zones Frequently Asked Questions.

• The Roundtable and a broad coalition of real estate organizations continue to support more significant enhancements to Opportunity Zones that would require congressional action.

• The 11-member industry coalition urged members of Congress on May 14 to consider Opportunity Zones (OZ) rule changes that could spur investment, promote capital formation and bolster job growth in economically disadvantaged communities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  (Coalition letter)

• The IRS changes this week come not long after the coalition’s letter, and several regulatory recommendations made by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and eight other Senate Republicans on May 4 in a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.  (Roundtable Weekly, May 8)

The Roundtable’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee will discuss Opportunity Zone guidance and other tax relief resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic during the first Virtual Roundtable Annual Meeting on June 12. #  #  #