Barrett Linburg@DallasAptGP
A barber in a low-income census tract saves for decades to buy land and build his own shop. When he finally sells, he faces hefty taxes on his gains.
Meanwhile, if a wealthy investor had purchased that same building using Opportunity Zone benefits, they’d pay zero taxes on the appreciation.
Does that feel right?
The current Opportunity Zone rules effectively penalize local entrepreneurs who build and operate businesses in low-income areas while rewarding those who simply invest capital gains into the same properties.
It’s time to expand Opportunity Zone benefits beyond just those with capital gains.
There is a window now with OZ 2.0 to far surpass the $100B that has gone into the program over the past 7 years.
This one tweak will:
1. Include local entrepreneurs who’ve invested their lives in these communities—not just their money.
2. Open OZs to all taxpayers and unleash a massive wave of investment from previously untapped sources: small business owners, savers, and everyday Americans committed to building wealth in underserved areas.
What’s your take—should Opportunity Zones be open to all taxpayers?
