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  • Texas Enterprise Zone Program

Texas Enterprise Zone Program

The Texas Enterprise Zone Program (EZP) is a state sales and use tax refund program designed to encourage private investment and job creation in economically distressed areas of the state.

Who Can Apply?

Texas communities must nominate companies in their jurisdiction to receive an Enterprise Zone designation and thus be eligible to receive state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures by submitting an application on the company’s behalf. Companies must contribute information to the application packet where required. Companies must meet minimum capital investment thresholds and create and/or retain jobs that employ a certain percentage of economically disadvantaged individuals, enterprise zone residents, or veterans.

Type of Incentive

State sales and use tax refund, with the maximum allowable refund—both total and per-job—determined for each company which has been awarded a designation based on the company’s planned capital investment and job creation and/or retention at the qualified business site (see table below). Companies approved for Enterprise Zone designations are eligible to apply for refunds of the state sales and use tax they have paid during the designation period on qualified expenditures, up to their maximum allowable refund. The Texas Comptroller’s Office administers all refunds. EZP designations are effective beginning 90 days prior to the deadline for the applicable application round and extend for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 5 years from the date on which the designation is made.

Level of Capital
Investment  
Maximum
Number of Jobs
Allocated
Maximum
Potential Refund
Maximum
Refund Per Job
Allocated

Half Enterprise Project
$40,000 to $5,000,000 or more


250


$625,000


$2,500

Enterprise Project 
$5,000,000 to $149,999,999


500


$1,250,000


$2,500

Double Jumbo Project
$150,000,000 to $249,999,999


500*


$2,500,000


$5,000

Triple Jumbo Project
$250,000,000 or more


500*


$3,750,000


$7,500

*Double and Triple Jumbo Projects may not count retained jobs for benefit. A Double Jumbo and Triple Jumbo Project must create at least 500 jobs.

Eligibility Details

For full eligibility details, see the EZP Statue, EZP Rules and/or EZP Overview links.

  1. Jobs counted for benefit must have an average weekly wage which meets or exceeds the average county weekly wage in the county which the qualified business site is located.
  2. Each community has a limited number of designations available per biennium; communities with a population at or above 250,000 have 9 designations available per biennium, while communities with a population of less than 250,000 have 6 designations available. The state may award a maximum of 105 designations statewide per biennium, and may award up to 12 designations per quarterly round.
  3. Employment (new and retained jobs) and capital investment commitments must be met prior to the expiration of the designation period.
  4. A company must first pay the applicable state sales and use tax on qualified expenditures in order to receive a refund of those taxes.
  5. The percentage of a project’s new employees who must meet economically disadvantaged, enterprise zone residency, or veteran requirement varies depending on whether the qualified business site is located inside or outside of an Enterprise Zone—state-designated area with economically depressed conditions.
    • If located within a Zone, 25% of the company’s new employees at the qualified business site must meet economically disadvantaged, enterprise zone residency or veteran requirements
    • If located outside a Zone, 35% of the company’s new employees at the qualified business site must meet economically disadvantaged, enterprise zone residency, or veteran requirements.
  6. Only full-time jobs qualify for EZP award consideration
  7. Jobs must be maintained through the end of the designation period, or for at least 3 years after the date on which tax benefits are received, whichever is later.

Application

The application period for the EZP occurs quarterly, with applications for the respective rounds due by 5:00 pm on the first business day of March, June, September and December.

Texas communities applying on behalf of a company must submit a complete application in paper form (via mail or in-person delivery) and non-refundable fee by the deadline for the EZP round for which they wish to be considered. Late applications will not be accepted.

FY 22-23 Biennium Project Deadlines
Quarterly Deadline 90-Day Window Expiration Date Job Certification Deadline

9/1/2021

12/1/2021

3/1/2022

6/1/2022

9/1/2022

12/1/2022

3/1/2023

6/1/2023

4/26/2021

7/21/2021

10/18/2021

1/24/2022

4/26/2022

7/22/2022

10/14/2022

1/24/2023

9/1/2026

12/1/2026

3/1/2027

6/1/2027

9/1/2027

12/1/2027

3/1/2028

6/1/2028

3/1/2028

6/1/2028

9/1/2028

12/1/2028

3/1/2029

6/1/2029

9/3/2029

12/3/2029

Application Materials:

  • Enterprise Zone Program Application (Revised May 5, 2022)
  • FY 2022 EZ Mandatory Participating Community Annual Report Form
  • FY 2021 EZ Mandatory Participating Community Annual Report Form
  • FY 2020 EZ Mandatory Participating Community Annual Report Form
  • Participating Consultant Form
  • Sample Nominating Ordinance or Order
  • Sample Nominating Resolution
  • Sample Corporate Resolution
  • Request for Verification of Deposit Form
  • Enterprise Project Assignment Application Form
  • Enterprise Project Name Change Application Form

The following materials may also provide information about the general program:

  • Program Overview
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • FY 2020-2021 Project Deadlines
  • Enterprise Zone Program Statutes, Chapter 2303, Texas Government Code
  • Enterprise Zone Program Rules, 10 TAC 176
  • HUD Section 8 Income Limits by Texas Counties
  • Chapter 311: Texas Tax Increment Financing Act
  • Chapter 312: Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act
  • Chapter 313: Texas Economic Development Act

Texas Enterprise Zones Data:

  • Enterprise Zone Program Designations (as of March 1, 2023)
  • Enterprise Zone Finder
  • Texas Block Group Enterprise Zones 2020 Census
  • Texas Block Group Enterprise Zones 2010 Census
  • Texas Block Group Enterprise Zones 2000 Census
  • 2022 Distressed Counties
  • 2021 Distressed Counties
  • 2020 Distressed Counties
  • 2019 Distressed Counties
  • 2018 Distressed Counties
  • 2017 Distressed Counties
  • 2016 Distressed Counties
  • 2015 Distressed Counties
  • 2014 Distressed Counties
  • 2013 Distressed Counties
  • 2012 Distressed Counties
  • 2011 Distressed Counties
  • 2010 Distressed Counties
  • 2009 Distressed Counties
  • 2008 Distressed Counties
  • 2007 Distressed Counties
  • 2006 Distressed Counties
  • 2005 Distressed Counties

In This Section

Incentives & Financing

  • Texas Enterprise Fund
  • Event Trust Funds
  • Governor's University Research Initiative (GURI)
  • Texas Enterprise Zone Program
  • Product Development and Small Business Incubator Fund
  • Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant
  • Texas Small Business Credit Initiative
  • Industrial Revenue Bonds
  • Original Capital Access Program
  • Spaceport Trust Fund
  • Economic Development & Diversification In-State Tuition for Employees
  • Opportunity Zones

Texas Business Incentives & Programs OverviewTexas Business Incentives & Programs

A summary of our most commonly utilized state offerings.

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