Tax Credits

Denver's business owners can apply for a business personal property tax credit offered through the Business Investment Program, designed to encourage start-ups and to reward existing businesses of all sizes that expand their operations in our city.

This program incentivizes qualified businesses to expand their facilities, add new employees, and buy new equipment.

Existing businesses, before you start an application remember that you must meet at least one of the following expansion requirements in 2023 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

Applications are open and we invite you to apply. The deadline to apply is Monday, July 1, 2024.

Apply Today! 

For 1:1 application assistance or questions, please contact investindenver@denvergov.org.

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. 

Change is Coming, Enterprise Zone 2026 Boundary Redesignation

About This Change

Per the Enterprise Zone statute, the State of Colorado's Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and the Colorado Economic Development Commission are required to review the local enterprise zone areas once every ten years to ensure that eligibility criteria continue to be met. As a result of this review, we anticipate that the boundaries of the Denver Enterprise Zone will change.

OEDIT has recently started this revision process in close collaboration with local enterprise zone administrators. This revision process will be completed in phases, with new revised zone maps expected to be finalized in January 2026.

Community members can engage now and provide input by:

• Visiting the OEDIT Enterprise Zone Redesignation Website and selecting the Colorado Enterprise Zone Redesignation Tool to start the process to provide input.
• Using the interactive Colorado Enterprise Zone Designation Tool on the website:
• • Follow the instructions in steps 1–5 to map the areas you want to recommend for inclusion or exclusion in the Enterprise Zones.
  • At the end of the process, you will be directed to fill out an input form
  • Please utilize this Enterprise Zone Redesignation Tool Help Guide to help you navigate the tool and complete the process.

The Denver Enterprise Zone Program team is looking forward to engaging with our Denver community throughout this process. For any additional support, please contact our Denver Enterprise Zone Team at EZAdmin@denvergov.org 

Tentative Timeline

The State of Colorado’s Office of Economic and Development and International Trade (OEDIT) will provide a more specific timeline as dates are decided upon. Please visit OEDIT’s website here for more information and to provide input. 

• Now – Spring 2025: The public is encouraged to provide feedback, including suggesting areas for inclusion or exclusion in the Enterprise Zones, using the methods outlined above.
• Spring / Summer 2025: Enterprise Zone Administrators’ applications for new zone designations are due
• Summer / Fall 2025: OEDIT & the Economic Development Commission review and ultimately approve new zone designations
• January 1, 2026: New zone designations and boundaries are effective

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.

Contact

For additional inquires please reach out to:
Karra Walker, Enterprise Zone Program Coordinator
Email: EZAdmin@denvergov.org
Phone: (720) 467-7041

Resources

• 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.