Treasurer's Department

 The Treasurer serves as the tax collector and investor of public funds for Chaves County, the State and numerous other tax agencies. The Treasurer’s office receives the assessed valuation, the tax rate and the amount of taxes due from the Assessor’s office and has an obligation to collect all taxes and fees owed on personal and real property in Chaves County.

The office collects and disburses tax collections to appropriate governmental agencies and keeps all books, records and funds pertaining to the office ready for inspection by the County Commission, the State Department of Finance and Administration and the auditors.

The Treasurer, with the advice and consent of the County Board of Finance, has ultimate authority over investment of public funds. The Treasurer invests funds in accordance with the rules, regulations, statutes and the Chaves County Investment Policy.

Tax bills are mailed by November 1 of every year. At least one-half of the total bill must be paid by December 10 to avoid delinquent charges of penalty and interest. Any taxes under $10 should be paid in full during first-half. The second-half payments must be paid by May 10 of the following year to avoid delinquent charges. Office hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the drive through open during tax season to accommodate taxpayers.

Property taxes may be paid in person, by mail, through mortgage companies, online or over the phone. Staff and team members, as well as the phone service are accessible in English and Spanish.

Delinquency notices are mailed to property owners for any tax bill that is 30 or more days delinquent as of June 10^th of each year. The notice will stress that if the taxes, penalty and interest charges are not paid within two years from the date of delinquency, the property records will be transferred to the State Property Tax Division which includes a “cost to state” fee of $125.00 and the risk of their property being sold at public auction. By law, each county is required to have an annual auction that takes place in the county commission chambers which is completed by the New Mexico Property Tax Division.

October 1^st – Treasurer should receive property tax schedule from assessor.

November 1^st – Treasurer to prepare and mail property tax bills.

November 10^th – Payment of first half (installment) of annual property tax bills are due.

December 11^th – First installment property tax not paid becomes delinquent.

January 1^st – Date by which all property subject to valuation for property taxation purposes shall be valued each year.

April 10^th – The second installment of annual property tax bills are due.

May 11^th – Second installment of property taxes not paid become delinquent.

June 10^th – Treasurer must mail notice to each property owner for which taxes have been delinquent for two (2) years.

June 30^th – Treasurer must mail a notice of delinquency to owners of property (and other with interest) with respect to any tax that is delinquent for more than 30 days as of June 10 of each year.

July 1^st – Treasurer shall prepare and submit to the State a property tax delinquency list of all property for which property taxes have been delinquent for more than two (2) years. The treasurer shall note on the property tax schedule that the account has been transferred to the State for collection.  

August 15^th – The State Dept of Public Education submits to DFA the property tax rates for each school district.

September 1^st – DFA sets property tax rates.

Early September – Each board of County Commissioners shall issue its written order imposing such tax and deliver same to the assessor immediately after entry.