TRD-41413 Instructions Inst.pg.20 www.tax.newmexico.gov
Most tax transactions happen without problems. Sometimes, thought,
troubles arise through misunderstanding, mathematical error, missed
deadlines, lost papers, high volume of transactions and many other
situations. Changes in the law may make earlier information outdated.
Over the years the Legislature and the Department have created ways
to handle diculties according to the provisions of the state tax code.
Following are some of your rights as outlined in Sections 7-1-4.1 through
7-1-4.3 NMSA 1978:
• The right to available public information and prompt and courteous
tax assistance;
• The right to representation and advice by counsel or other qualied
representatives at any time during your interactions with the Depart
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ment according to provisions of Section 7-1-24 NMSA 1978, or with
the Administrative Hearings Oce in accordance with the provisions
of the Administrative Hearings Oce Act;
• The right to have audits, inspections of records and meetings con-
ducted at a reasonable time and place according to Section 7-1-11
NMSA 1978;
• The right to have the Department conduct its audits in a timely and
ecient manner and be entitled to the correct calculation of interest
as provided in the Tax Administration Act under Section 7-1-67 and
7-1-68 NMSA 1978;
• The right to simple, non-technical information explaining procedures,
remedies and rights during audit, protest , appeals and collection pro-
ceedings under the Tax Administration Act;
• The right to receive an explanation of audit results and the basis for
audits, assessments or denials of refunds that identify tax, interest or
penalty due;
• The right to seek review through formal or informal proceedings of
ndings or unfavorable decisions arising from determinations during
audit or protest procedures according to Section 7-1-24 NMSA 1978
and the Administrative Hearings Oce Act;
• The right to have your tax information kept condential unless other-
wise specied by law in Sections 7-1-8 through 7-1-8.11 NMSA 1978;
• The right to an abatement of an assessment of taxes incorrectly, er-
roneously or illegally made (Section 7-1-28 NMSA 1978) and a right to
seek a compromise of an asserted tax liability. When the Secretary of
Taxation and Revenue in good faith doubts that you owe us what we
claim you owe, you also have the right to seek a compromise if one
exists in your particular case (Section 7-1-20 NMSA 1978);
• The right to clear information of the consequences if a tax assessment
is not paid, secured, protested or otherwise provided for according to
Section 7-1-16 NMSA 1978. If you become a delinquent taxpayer,
upon notice of delinquency you have the right to timely notice of col-
lection actions that require sale or seizure of your property under the
Tax Administration Act, and
• The right to apply to pay your tax obligations by installment payment
agreements according to the provisions of Section 7-1-21 NMSA
1978.
Condentiality Provisions:
Statutes protecting the privacy of your taxes are strict and are outlined
in Sections 7-1-8 through 7-1-8.11 NMSA 1978. Section 7-1-8.2 NMSA
1978 limits requiring the Department to answer questions about whether
a taxpayer is registered to do business in New Mexico or is registered for
other tax programs. It does not allow employees to say whether you have
led a return. Employees may discuss your account only with you or your
authorized representative. A hearing ocer’s written ruling on questions
of evidence or procedure pursuant to the Administrative Hearings Oce
Act are in the public domain. The name and identication number of the
taxpayer requesting the ruling are not public record. Public record includes
the monthly gasoline tax reports of numbers of gallons of gasoline and
ethanol-blended fuels received and deducted, and the tax paid by each
ler or taxpayer pays. Identities of rack operators, importers, blenders,
suppliers or distributors and the number of gallons of gasoline and other
fuels are public record. The Department may reveal to the Gaming Control
Board the tax returns of license applicants and their aliates.
Audit Provisions:
The Department must provide you with written, dated notice that an audit
is about to begin on a specic date, and the notice must tell you which tax
programs and reporting periods will be covered. We must issue a second
notice, which states any outstanding records or books of account requested
and not yet received, between 60 and 180 days after the audit begins.
If you do not produce the records within 90 days, the Department can
issue an assessment of tax on the basis of the information as it stands.
If you need additional time, you must submit a specic request in writing.
Interest on outstanding liabilities accrues if the Department does not is
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sue an assessment within 180 days of the notice of outstanding records
or books, or within 90 days after time has expired under your request for
additional time; however, you are entitled to an abatement of interest for
the period of time after you have complied with Department requests and
the Department has not acted on the audit.
Administrative Hearing Procedures:
A hearing ocer may not engage or participate in any way in the enforce
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ment or formulation of general tax policy other than to conduct hearings.
You may request the Chief Hearing Ocer of the Administrative Hear-
ings Oce determine if a hearing ocer has engaged or participated in
the enforcement or formulation of tax policy and if the hearing ocer’s
activities have aected his or her impartiality. The Chief Hearing Ocer
may designate another hearing ocer for the matter. Hearing ocers
may not communicate unilaterally about a matter you have protested
while that matter is still pending. The chief hearing ocer may appoint
another hearing ocer if that occurs. You may request a written ruling on
any contested question of evidence in matters in which you have led a
pending written protest. You also may request that two or more protests
on related issues be combined and heard jointly, and the hearing ocer
shall grant the request unless it creates an unreasonable burden on the
Department.
Credit Claims:
The Department has 120 days from the ling date to approve or deny
a statutory tax credit. If it does not act, the credit is approved. For more
information see Section 7-1-29.2 NMSA 1978.
Refund Osets:
The Secretary decides whether a refund of tax due you may be oset
against your other tax liabilities, and you will receive notice that the refund
will be made accordingly. You are entitled to interest until the tax liability
is credited with the refund amount. Please see the paragraph above on
“Audit Provisions” for interest due to you if the Department does not oset
a refund or credit against your other tax liabilities within the prescribed
time. The Department may make a direct refund of overpaid taxes to the
taxpayer without requiring the taxpayer to le a refund claim. The Depart
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ment does not have to pay interest on credits or refunds if it applies the
amount to a tax interception program, to an estimated payment, or to
oset prior liabilities of the taxpayer.
Awarding of Costs and Fees:
If you prevail in an administrative or court proceeding brought by you or
against you after July 1, 2003, under the Tax Administration Act, you may
be entitled to a judgment or a settlement for reasonable administrative
costs connected to the action.
Penalty:
The Department may not assess penalty against you if you fail to pay
tax when due because of a mistake of law made in good faith and on
reasonable grounds. If the Secretary determines that it is unfair to hold a
spouse or former spouse liable for payment of unpaid taxes, the Secretary
may decline to take action against the spouse or former spouse of the
person who actually owes the tax. In extreme cases of delinquency under
Section 7-1-53 NMSA 1978 the Department may enjoin a taxpayer from
continuing in business after a hearing and until the delinquency is cleared.
New Mexico Taxpayer Bill of Rights