Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§1391 Designation procedure
Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - Income Taxes › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter Subchapter U— - Designation and Treatment of Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Rural Development Investment Areas › Part PART I— - DESIGNATION › § 1391
Summary
The federal agencies in charge can name nominated places as empowerment zones or enterprise communities. They can pick up to 95 enterprise communities (no more than 65 in cities and 30 in rural areas) and up to 11 empowerment zones (no more than 8 in cities and 3 in rural areas). If 8 urban empowerment zones are chosen, at least one must be in a city with 500,000 people or fewer and at least one must span two States and have 50,000 people or fewer. The Department of Housing and Urban Development must make sure all urban empowerment zones together cover no more than 1,000,000 people. Initial designations can only be made after 1993 and before 1996. A designation lasts from the date it is made until the earliest of these: an empowerment zone until December 31, 2025; an enterprise community for 10 calendar years after designation; a date chosen by the State and local governments when they nominated the area; or the agency revokes the name because boundaries were changed or the area is not following or making progress on its strategic plan. No area can be named unless the local government(s) and the State nominate it, have the legal authority to do so, promise in writing to carry out the strategic plan, and say the area is not already in another zone or nomination. The application must show the area meets the rules in section 1392 and include a strategic plan that explains coordinated economic, human, community, and physical development; how the local community helped make the plan; what State, local, and private resources and partnerships are available; what federal funding is being asked for; and clear baselines and benchmarks to measure success, including how poor people will become more self-sufficient. The plan cannot be used to move a business from another area into the nominated area, except to allow a business to open a new branch or affiliate only if that does not reduce jobs where the business already operates and is not done to close the original location. The agencies may also add up to 20 more empowerment zones (no more than 15 urban and 5 rural) if nominated before January 1, 1999, and up to 9 more (no more than 7 urban and 2 rural) if nominated before January 1, 2002. These extra designations must meet special poverty-rate rules and other technical limits, and some exceptions apply for small tracts, noncontiguous parcels, Indian reservations, and replacement of zones that lose their status.
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §1391
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)From among the areas nominated for designation under this section, the appropriate Secretaries may designate empowerment zones and enterprise communities.
(b)(1)The appropriate Secretaries may designate in the aggregate 95 nominated areas as enterprise communities under this section, subject to the availability of eligible nominated areas. Of that number, not more than 65 may be designated in urban areas and not more than 30 may be designated in rural areas.
(2)The appropriate Secretaries may designate in the aggregate 11 nominated areas as empowerment zones under this section, subject to the availability of eligible nominated areas. Of that number, not more than 8 may be designated in urban areas and not more than 3 may be designated in rural areas. If 8 empowerment zones are designated in urban areas, no less than 1 shall be designated in an urban area the most populous city of which has a population of 500,000 or less and no less than 1 shall be a nominated area which includes areas in 2 States and which has a population of 50,000 or less. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall designate empowerment zones located in urban areas in such a manner that the aggregate population of all such zones does not exceed 1,000,000.
(c)A designation may be made under subsection (a) only after 1993 and before 1996.
(d)(1)Any designation under this section shall remain in effect during the period beginning on the date of the designation and ending on the earliest of—
(A)(i)in the case of an empowerment zone, December 31, 2025, or
(ii)in the case of an enterprise community, the close of the 10th calendar year beginning on or after such date of designation,
(B)the termination date designated by the State and local governments as provided for in their nomination, or
(C)the date the appropriate Secretary revokes the designation.
(2)The appropriate Secretary may revoke the designation under this section of an area if such Secretary determines that the local government or the State in which it is located—
(A)has modified the boundaries of the area, or
(B)is not complying substantially with, or fails to make progress in achieving the benchmarks set forth in, the strategic plan under subsection (f)(2).
(e)No area may be designated under this section unless—
(1)the area is nominated by 1 or more local governments and the State or States in which it is located for designation under this section,
(2)such State or States and the local governments have the authority—
(A)to nominate the area for designation under this section, and
(B)to provide the assurances described in paragraph (3),
(3)such State or States and the local governments provide written assurances satisfactory to the appropriate Secretary that the strategic plan described in the application under subsection (f)(2) for such area will be implemented,
(4)the appropriate Secretary determines that any information furnished is reasonably accurate, and
(5)such State or States and local governments certify that no portion of the area nominated is already included in an empowerment zone or in an enterprise community or in an area otherwise nominated to be designated under this section.
(f)No area may be designated under this section unless the application for such designation—
(1)demonstrates that the nominated area satisfies the eligibility criteria described in section 1392,
(2)includes a strategic plan for accomplishing the purposes of this subchapter that—
(A)describes the coordinated economic, human, community, and physical development plan and related activities proposed for the nominated area,
(B)describes the process by which the affected community is a full partner in the process of developing and implementing the plan and the extent to which local institutions and organizations have contributed to the planning process,
(C)identifies the amount of State, local, and private resources that will be available in the nominated area and the private/public partnerships to be used, which may include participation by, and cooperation with, universities, medical centers, and other private and public entities,
(D)identifies the funding requested under any Federal program in support of the proposed economic, human, community, and physical development and related activities,
(E)identifies baselines, methods, and benchmarks for measuring the success of carrying out the strategic plan, including the extent to which poor persons and families will be empowered to become economically self-sufficient, and
(F)does not include any action to assist any establishment in relocating from one area outside the nominated area to the nominated area, except that assistance for the expansion of an existing business entity through the establishment of a new branch, affiliate, or subsidiary is permitted if—
(i)the establishment of the new branch, affiliate, or subsidiary will not result in a decrease in employment in the area of original location or in any other area where the existing business entity conducts business operations, and
(ii)there is no reason to believe that the new branch, affiliate, or subsidiary is being established with the intention of closing down the operations of the existing business entity in the area of its original location or in any other area where the existing business entity conducts business operation, and
(3)includes such other information as may be required by the appropriate Secretary.
(g)(1)In addition to the areas designated under subsection (a), the appropriate Secretaries may designate in the aggregate an additional 20 nominated areas as empowerment zones under this section, subject to the availability of eligible nominated areas. Of that number, not more than 15 may be designated in urban areas and not more than 5 may be designated in rural areas.
(2)A designation may be made under this subsection after the date of the enactment of this subsection and before January 1, 1999.
(3)(A)(i)A nominated area shall be eligible for designation under this subsection only if the poverty rate for each population census tract within the nominated area is not less than 20 percent and the poverty rate for at least 90 percent of the population census tracts within the nominated area is not less than 25 percent.
(ii)A population census tract with a population of less than 2,000 shall be treated as having a poverty rate of not less than 25 percent if—
(I)more than 75 percent of such tract is zoned for commercial or industrial use, and
(II)such tract is contiguous to 1 or more other population census tracts which have a poverty rate of not less than 25 percent (determined without regard to this clause).
(iii)Clause (i) shall not apply to up to 3 noncontiguous parcels in a nominated area which may be developed for commercial or industrial purposes. The aggregate area of noncontiguous parcels to which the preceding sentence applies with respect to any nominated area shall not exceed 2,000 acres.
(iv)section 1392(a)(4) (and so much of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1392(b) as relate to section 1392(a)(4)) shall not apply to an area nominated for designation under this subsection.
(v)The Secretary of Agriculture may designate not more than 1 empowerment zone in a rural area without regard to clause (i) if such area satisfies emigration criteria specified by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(B)(i)The parcels described in subparagraph (A)(iii) shall not be taken into account in determining whether the requirement of subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 1392(a)(3) is met.
(ii)If a population census tract (or equivalent division under section 1392(b)(4)) in a rural area exceeds 1,000 square miles or includes a substantial amount of land owned by the Federal, State, or local government, the nominated area may exclude such excess square mileage or governmentally owned land and the exclusion of that area will not be treated as violating the continuous boundary requirement of section 1392(a)(3)(B).
(C)The aggregate population limitation under the last sentence of subsection (b)(2) shall not apply to a designation under paragraph (1).
(D)Subsection (e)(5) shall not apply to any enterprise community designated under subsection (a) that is also nominated for designation under this subsection.
(E)(i)section 1393(a)(4) shall not apply to an area nominated for designation under this subsection.
(ii)An area in an Indian reservation shall be treated as nominated by a State and a local government if it is nominated by the reservation governing body (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior).
(h)(1)In addition to the areas designated under subsections (a) and (g), the appropriate Secretaries may designate in the aggregate an additional 9 nominated areas as empowerment zones under this section, subject to the availability of eligible nominated areas. Of that number, not more than seven may be designated in urban areas and not more than 2 may be designated in rural areas.
(2)A designation may be made under this subsection after the date of the enactment of this subsection and before January 1, 2002.
(3)The rules of subsection (g)(3) shall apply to designations under this subsection.
(4)The number of areas which may be designated as empowerment zones under this subsection shall be increased by 1 for each area which ceases to be an empowerment zone by reason of section 1400E(e).11 See References in Text note below. Each additional area designated by reason of the preceding sentence shall have the same urban or rural character as the area it is replacing.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 105–34, which was approved Aug. 5, 1997. The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (h)(2), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106–554, which was approved Dec. 21, 2000. section 1400E(e), referred to in subsec. (h)(4), was repealed by Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(d)(5)(A), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1210.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1391, added Pub. L. 95–600, title VI, § 601(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2892; amended Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 106(a)(4), Apr. 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 221; Pub. L. 96–595, § 3(a)(1), (2), Dec. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 3465, defined terms used in former subchapter U, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–514, title XIII, § 1303(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2658.
Amendments
2020—Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 116–260 substituted “
December 31, 2025” for “
December 31, 2020”. 2019—Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 116–94 substituted “
December 31, 2020” for “
December 31, 2017”. 2018—Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 115–123 substituted “
December 31, 2017” for “
December 31, 2016”. Subsec. (g)(3)(E)(ii). Pub. L. 115–141 substituted “the Interior” for “Interior”. 2015—Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 114–113 substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2014”. 2014—Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “
December 31, 2014” for “
December 31, 2013”. 2013—Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 112–240 substituted “
December 31, 2013” for “
December 31, 2011”. 2010—Subsec. (d)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 111–312, § 753(a)(1), substituted “
December 31, 2011” for “
December 31, 2009”. Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 111–312, § 753(a)(2), struck out at end “Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (d)(1), such designations shall remain in effect during the period beginning on
January 1, 2002, and ending on
December 31, 2009.” 2000—Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 112], amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “the close of the 10th calendar year beginning on or after such date of designation,”. Subsec. (g)(3)(C). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title III, § 319(13)], substituted “paragraph (1)” for “paragraph (1)(B)”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title I, § 111], added subsec. (h). 1997—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–34, § 951(a)(3), substituted “1,000,000” for “750,000”. Pub. L. 105–34, § 951(a)(2), which directed substitution of “8” for “6”, was executed by making the substitution both places “6” appeared, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 105–34, § 951(a)(1), substituted “11” for “9”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–34, § 952(d)(2), substituted “subsection (a)” for “this section”. Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 105–34, § 952(d)(1), substituted “this section” for “subsection (a)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–34, § 952(a), added subsec. (g).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2020 Amendment Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title I, § 118(e), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3051, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 1397A and 1397B of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.”
Effective Date
of 2019 Amendment Pub. L. 116–94, div. Q, title I, § 118(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3229, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.”
Effective Date
of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title I, § 40311(b), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 147, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a)(1) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016.”
Effective Date
of 2015 Amendment Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 171(e)(1), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3071, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.”
Effective Date
of 2014 Amendment Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title I, § 139(c), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4020, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to periods after December 31, 2013.”
Effective Date
of 2013 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–240 applicable to periods after Dec. 31, 2011, see section 327(d) of Pub. L. 112–240, set out as a note under section 1202 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–312 applicable to periods after Dec. 31, 2009, see section 753(d) of Pub. L. 111–312, set out as a note under section 1202 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1997 Amendment Pub. L. 105–34, title IX, § 951(c), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 885, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section and section 1396 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997], except that designations of new empowerment zones made pursuant to such
Amendments
shall be made during the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. No designation pursuant to such
Amendments
shall take effect before January 1, 2000.” Treatment of Certain Termination Dates Specified in Nominations Pub. L. 116–260, div. EE, title I, § 118(d), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3051, provided that: “In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect before the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2020]), subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of the enactment of this section, the entity which made such nomination amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) may provide.” Pub. L. 116–94, div. Q, title I, § 118(b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3229, provided that: “In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect before the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019]), subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of the enactment of this section, the entity which made such nomination amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) may provide.” Pub. L. 115–123, div. D, title I, § 40311(a)(2), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 147, provided that: “In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect before the enactment of this Act [Feb. 9, 2018]), subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of the enactment of this section, the entity which made such nomination amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) may provide.” Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title I, § 171(a)(2), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3069, provided that: “In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect before the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2015]), subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of the enactment of this section, the entity which made such nomination amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) may provide.” Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title I, § 139(b), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4020, provided that: “In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect before the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 2014]), subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of the enactment of this section, the entity which made such nomination amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) may provide.” Pub. L. 112–240, title III, § 327(c), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2334, provided that: “In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect before the enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 2013]), subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of the enactment of this section, the entity which made such nomination amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) may provide.” Pub. L. 111–312, title VII, § 753(c), Dec. 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 3321, provided that: “In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the nomination for which included a termination date which is contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect before the enactment of this Act [Dec. 17, 2010]), subparagraph (B) of such section shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of the enactment of this section [Dec. 17, 2010], the entity which made such nomination amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary’s designee) may provide.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 1391
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73