NMSA 1978, § 7-38-17.1 — 7-38-17.1

Presumption of nonresidential classification; declaration
of residential classification.

# A.

Property subject to valuation for property taxation purposes for the 1982 and
succeeding tax years is presumed to be nonresidential and will be so recorded by the
appropriate valuation authority unless the property owner declares the property to be
residential. This declaration will be made on a form prescribed by the division, signed by
the owner or his agent and mailed to the valuation authority not later than the last day of
February of the property tax year to which it applies. The form for the declaration shall
be mailed by the valuation authority to property owners no later than January 31 of each
property tax year and shall include the property owner's name and address and the
description or identification of the property. It may be included as part of a preliminary
notice of valuation form or any other similar form mailed to property owners during the
appropriate time period. The valuation authority will take reasonable steps to verify any
such declaration. Once the declaration is accepted, the valuation authority will make
appropriate entries on the valuation records. Declarations, once accepted by the
valuation authority, need not be made in subsequent tax years if there is no change in
the use of the property.

# B.

No later than the last day of February of each tax year, every owner of property
subject to valuation for property taxation purposes shall report to the appropriate
valuation authority as set out in Section 7-36-2 NMSA 1978 whenever the use of the
property changes from residential to nonresidential or from nonresidential to residential.
This report will be made on a form prescribed by the division and will be signed by the
owner of the property or his agent.

# C.

Any person who violates Subsection A of this section by declaring a property
which is nonresidential to be residential or who violates Subsection B of this section by
failing to report a change of use from residential to nonresidential shall be liable, for
each tax year to which declaration or failure to report applies, for:
(1) any additional taxes because of a difference in tax rates imposed against
residential and nonresidential property;
(2) interest, calculated as provided under Section 7-38-49 NMSA 1978, on
any additional taxes determined to be due under Paragraph (1) of this subsection; and
(3) a civil penalty of five percent of any additional taxes determined to be due
under Paragraph (1) of this subsection.

# D.

Any person who violates Subsection A of this section by declaring a property
which is nonresidential to be residential with the intent to evade any tax or who violates
Subsection B of this section by refusing or failing to report a change of use from
residential to nonresidential with the intent to evade any tax is guilty of a misdemeanor
and shall be punished by the imposition of a fine of not more than one thousand dollars
($1,000). Any director, employee of the division, county assessor or employee of any
assessor who knowingly records a property which is nonresidential to be residential is
guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand
dollars ($1,000) and shall be automatically removed from office or dismissed from
employment upon conviction under this subsection.

# E.

The civil penalties authorized in Subsection C of this section shall be imposed
and collected at the same time and in the same manner that the tax and interest are
imposed and collected. The county treasurer is responsible for making entries on the
appropriate records indicating amounts due and the date of payment.