Tax Credits

New Denver Enterprise Zone Boundaries in 2026

The Denver Enterprise Zone Program offers tax credits to businesses in specific areas for activities like job creation, employee training, and investing in property.

Every ten years, the State of Colorado reviews these zones to ensure they still meet eligibility requirements. This revision process was recently completed, and the new enterprise zone boundaries were presented to and approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission. 

Review Updated Boundaries

View the updated boundaries on the interactive Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s (OEDIT) website here. The revised boundaries of the Denver Enterprise Zone will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Grandfathering Option for Former Enterprise Zone Businesses

Review the updated boundaries on OEDIT’s website here. If your business previously qualified for the Denver Enterprise Zone tax credit but is no longer located within the newly designated 2026 boundaries, you may be eligible to apply for a grandfathering option.

For further questions, please email the Denver Enterprise Zone Administrator at EZ.Admin@denvergov.org.  

About Denver Enterprise Zone Program

The Denver Enterprise Zone Program is a State of Colorado tax credit program that allows businesses located within a specific geographic area to receive tax credits against their state income tax liability for qualifying activities, such as job creation, employee training and investment in business personal property. Denver's designated Enterprise Zone (EZ) includes over 30 square miles of commercially zoned real estate.

There are ten different state tax credits available to businesses within the Zone. If your business will perform an activity that will earn an EZ tax credit, the State requires that you pre-certify annually prior to beginning the activity that will earn the credit. Pre-certification can be requested year-round and must be approved prior to the commencement of the activity.

Get Started

• Start by referring to the Denver Enterprise Zone brochure - in English(PDF, 4MB)  o en español(PDF, 4MB)  - to see a list of available EZ tax credits
• Consult the Colorado Enterprise Zone Income Tax Credit Guide for detailed information on each tax credit
• Confirm the Zone status of an exact business location
• Access instructions on how to file for Enterprise Zone pre-certification and certification
• Enterprise Zone Contribution Projects (EZCP) provide a tax credit to Colorado taxpayers that contribute to designated economic development programs. When taxpayers make a certified contribution, they can claim: 25% of a cash donation as a state income tax credit or 12.5% of an in-kind donation as a state income tax credit. 

Contact

Karra Walker, Enterprise Zone Program Coordinator
Email: EZ.Admin@denvergov.org
Phone: (720) 467-7041

The Business Incentive Fund (BIF) is a significant and unique tool for the City and County of Denver to support a competitive relocation to or expansion within Denver. Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) is able to support only a handful of projects every year through the BIF program.

Projects under consideration are evaluated on a number of factors, including the direct fiscal benefit of the project to the city, creation/retention of quality jobs across industries, and demonstrated alignment with the City’s economic development goals and its values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Funds are dispersed only on performance. Every negotiated incentive offer is unique and each has a defined criteria and payout terms, which link directly both to the business decisions and the direct fiscal benefit to the city. While job creation is a primary goal of such incentives, the nature of the business may dictate a different measurable factor upon which incentive funds are dispersed. 

Denver's business owners can apply for a business personal property tax credit offered through the Denver Business Investment Program. This program encourages start-ups and rewards businesses of all sizes that expand their operations in our city. Qualifying businesses can receive a tax credit based on the taxes that would have been owed on new, eligible business personal property added through their new or expanded facility. This credit covers the General Fund portion assessed by the City & County of Denver.

Businesses are encouraged to apply if they are:

• A new business (start-up)
• A business new to Denver that relocated from outside Denver or added a new facility in Denver
• An existing business already located within the City and County of Denver, through expansion, that made significant capital investments and/or job creation. If you have an existing business, it must meet at least one of these expansion requirements in 2024 to qualify: 
  • Your increased investment was at least $1 million in business expansion;
  • Your increased investment was at least 100% of your prior business capital level;
  • You increased by at least 10 employees over your preceding 12‐month average; or
  • You increased by at least 10 percent in employment over your preceding 12‐month average

For more information, please visit our program page.

Applications are currently closed.