Note: The Enterprise Zone application submission deadline has been extended for Spring 2020. View the Public Notice.
The EZ program provides real property and state income tax credits for businesses located in a Maryland enterprise zone in return for job creation and investments. Businesses located in Focus Areas may be also qualified for personal property tax credits on new investment in personal property and enhanced income tax credit for creating new jobs.
There are currently 36 enterprise zones and focus areas in one jurisdiction.
County |
Enterprise Zone |
Acres |
Expires |
Allegany | Rt. 220 South-Allegany County | 380
| 12/14/2029
|
| Gateway-Allegany County | 7,783 | 6/14/2022 |
| Frostburg-Allegany County | 346 | 12/14/2024 |
Anne Arundel
| Brooklyn Park
| 472
| 6/14/2027 |
Baltimore City | Baltimore City | 13,453 | 6/14/2022 |
Baltimore County | Chesapeake | 6,988 | 6/14/2025 |
| Southwest Baltimore County | 1,304 | 6/14/2023 |
| Woodlawn Baltimore County | 395 | 6/16/2021 |
Caroline | Federalsburg | 534 | 6/14/2025 |
| North County
| 710
| 12/14/2028
|
Cecil | Cecil County | 7,090
| 6/14/2023 |
Dorchester | Cambridge-Dorchester County | 1,661 | 6/14/2023 |
Frederick | City of Brunswick | 1,371 | 6/14/2026 |
| City of Frederick
| 525
| 6/14/2028
|
Garrett | Northern Garrett Industrial Park | 109
| 12/14/2028 |
| Southern Garrett
| 247
| 6/14/2027 |
| Keyser's Ridge
| 262
| 6/14/2028
|
Harford | Aberdeen/Havre de Grace | 9,797
| 6/14/2026 |
| Edgewood/Harford County
| 4,297
| 6/14/2026
|
Kent | Town of Chestertown | 1,086 | 6/14/2026 |
Montgomery | Olde Towne | 350
| 6/14/2028 |
| Glenmont
| 235 | 6/14/2023 |
| Long Branch –Takoma Park
| 125 | 6/14/2023 |
| Burtonsville/Briggs Chaney | 231
| 6/14/2027 |
Queen Anne's | Queen Anne's County | 1,349 | 12/14/2026 |
Somerset | Princess Anne-Somerset County | 1,155 | 6/14/2023 |
| Crisfield-Somerset County | 776 | 12/14/2026 |
Talbot
| Easton Talbot County | 316
| 6/14/2027 |
| Tilghman
| 85
| 12/14/2027
|
Washington | Town of Hancock | 1,871
| 12/14/2025 |
| Hagerstown-Washington County | 4,094 | 12/14/2022 |
Wicomico | Salisbury-Wicomico County | 5,223 | 12/14/2022 |
| Fruitland-Wicomico County | 129 | 12/14/2025 |
Worcester | Berlin-Worcester County | 1,195 | 12/14/2026 |
| Pocomoke City | 926 | 6/14/2022 |
| Snow Hill | 233 | 6/14/2022 |
| | | |
Focus Areas | | | |
Baltimore City
| Baltimore City - Carroll-Camden, Jones Falls and Old Town
| | 6/14/2022
|
| Baltimore City - Holabird/Orangeville Industrial Areas
| | 6/14/2022
|
| Baltimore City - Central West Baltimore | | 6/14/2022
|
Enterprise Zone Map (as of 12/20/2019)
View our Enterprise Zone interactive map and enter an address in the search bar below to see if your business falls within an Enterprise Zone.
BENEFIT
Income Tax Credits:
There are two types of income tax credits for businesses in an Enterprise Zone:
- The General Income Tax Credit – The one-time $1,000 tax credit for each qualified new employee filing a newly created position in an enterprise zone, or one-time $1,500 credit for each qualified new employee in an enterprise zone focus area.
- The Income Tax Credit for Economically Disadvantaged Employees – A three-year period tax credit for each qualified new economically disadvantaged employee, earned at the following amounts:
| Enterprise Zone | Focus Area |
First Year | $3,000 | $4,500 |
Second Year | $2,000 | $3,000 |
Third Year | $1,000 | $1,500 |
Property Tax Credits:
The property tax credits benefits differ by whether a business is located in an enterprise zone or an enterprise zone focus area:
Enterprise Zone
-
Real Property Tax Credit – A ten-year tax credit against local real property taxes on a portion of real property expansion, renovation or capital improvement. The amount of
credit is 80% of the "eligible assessment" in each of the first 5 years, and the credit deceases 10% annually (70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%) for the subsequent 5 years.
Enterprise Zone Focus Area
-
Real Property Tax Credit for Focus Area– A ten-year tax credit against local real property taxes on a portion of real property expansion, renovation or capital improvement within a focus area. The amount of credit is 80% of the "eligible assessment" in each of the entire ten-year period.
-
Personal Property Tax Credit – A ten-year tax credit against local personal property taxes on new investment in personal property within a focus area. The amount of credit is 80% of the
"eligible assessment" in each of the entire ten-year period.
ELIGIBILITY
Not every business located in an enterprise zone is eligible to receive tax credit. In order to claim the credit, the business
must be certified by the local enterprise zone administrator as eligible for the credit.
Income Tax Credits:
General Requirements
Not every new employee hired by a business located in an enterprise zone is eligible for one of the enterprise zone income tax credits. The following requirements apply to both the general income tax credit and the income tax credit for hiring economically disadvantaged employees:
- The employee must have been hired after the business was located in the enterprise zone or focus area, or after the enterprise zone or focus area is designated,
- The employee must have been employed for at least 35 hours per week for six months (or 12 months in a Focus Area) before or during the taxable year in which the credit is taken,
- The employee must spend at least 50% of all work time in the enterprise zone or on activities of the business resulting from its location in the enterprise zone or focus area,
- The employee must have been hired to fill a new position. That is, the firm's number of full-time positions must increase by the number of credits taken, and
- The employee must earn at least 150% of the federal minimum wage.
Requirements for Economically Disadvantaged Employees:
The following requirements apply the income tax credit for hiring economically disadvantaged employees in addition to the general requirements:
- To claim the income tax credit for hiring the economically disadvantaged employees, the business must obtained the certification from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and
- To receive the income tax credit, an economically disadvantaged employee must remain in the position for three years.
Property Tax Credits:
In order for a business to qualify for the property tax credit, it must meet all state and local eligibility requirements. To be qualified the business must satisfy one of the two specific statutory requirements, which are that business must either (1) make and investment in capital improvements, or (2) hire new employees. The business must contact the local enterprise zone administrator regarding the local eligibility requirements because the local eligibility requirements vary by the enterprise zone.
APPLY
The business must apply to the local enterprise zone administrator for certification.
RESOURCES
CONTACT
For more information about the Maryland Enterprise Zone Tax Credit contact:
Abigail McKnight, Tax Incentive Specialist
Maryland Department of Commerce, Office of Finance Programs
(410) 767-7234
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS