Frequently Asked Questions

A. Yes! The property owner is responsible for recording property transfer documents with the County Clerk and for notifying the County Assessor purchases and transfers of ownership. Contacting the Assessor should ensure that you are correctly assessed as the current owner with a valid address where you can receive valuation notices and tax bills.  If you have moved recently please contact the County Assessor’s Office and give them your new address. 

A. Taxes are based on the current and correct market value of your residence and land, vacant land, commercial property, or other taxable property.  The amount you pay is determined by multiplying the mil levy rate against the net taxable value of your property.  The net taxable value is one third of the total assessed value of your property minus valid exemptions such as Head of Family (2000) or Veteran’s exemptions ($4,000 each).

A. Composite mil rates by area as of 2007 ranged from $24.775 to $41.285 per $1,000 of net taxable value of your property, depending on the type and location of the property.

A. The valuation set for property by the County Assessor is an estimate of the market value of your property, i.e., your residence, vacant land, commercial property, or other taxable property.

A. The Assessor is required by state law to value property at 100 percent of current market value as determined by sales of comparable property (7-36-15 NMSA 1978).

A. Once a year you receive a Notice of Value from the Assessor informing you of the value of your property for that year.  It is an advance notice of what the Assessor has determined your property was worth two years earlier.  The Notice of Value is not a tax bill.  The treasurer issues the tax bill each November 1. 

A. The Assessor is required to mail one Notice of Value for each assessed property by April 1, of each year. (See:  7-38-20 NMSA 1978).

A. The Assessor’s Office will accept mailing address changes in person or through the mail.  The Assessor provides a change of address form with the Notice of Value.  If you do not receive a tax bill, be sure to contact the Assessor and verify the address on the tax roll.

a. January 1:  Property is assessed to the owner of record according to its condition as of that date.  For example, if property is vacant on January 1, it will be assessed as vacant land even if a building is constructed on that property sometime during the tax year after January 1.

b. Last day in February:  The application deadline for agricultural valuation; church, charitable, educational and personal property exemptions; head of family and veterans exemption; report of mobile homes; and livestock.  This date also applies to loss of status for eligibility for exemptions; reporting improvements costing more than $10,000; and/or statement of.

c. June 15: The County Assessor certifies the full valuation of the County to the State Property Tax Division.

d. September:  The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration sets the tax rates for the current year’s property taxes for each of the 33 counties.  The County Commission must approve mil rates before they take effect.

e. October 1:  Deadline for County Assessor to deliver tax schedule and abstract of tax schedule to County Treasurer.  After October 1, the Assessor has only limited authority to request changes to the tax schedule.

Assessor's Office Timeline

January 1:  Property is assessed to the owner of record in its current condition as of that date.

Last day in February:  Cut-off date for Application (s) for agricultural valuation; Head of Household or veterans exemptions and other exemptions.

April 1:  County Assessor mails a Notice of Value to Property owners 30 days from Notice of Value:  Cut-off date for the Property owner to file a valuation protest with assessor.

June 15:  County Assessors certify the County net taxable values to The State Department of Finance and Administration.

August 1:  Department of Taxation and Revenue certifies the final Net Taxable Values to the Department of Finance and Administration for setting tax rates. 

September 1:  Cut-off date for Department of Finance and Administration to set tax rates.