Some county residents have stopped paying property taxes

The number of individuals not paying their property taxes in Socorro County is staggering.

Last week County Treasurer Rose Mary Rosas told Socorro County Commissioners, 7,549 property parcels are delinquent paying taxes from the years 2014 to 2021.

On July 1, according to state law, Rosas must prepare a property tax delinquency list of all real property for taxes that have been delinquent for more than two years. At that time, the country treasurer shall record the tax delinquency in the County Clerk’s office. From there, a copy of the delinquency property tax list is presented to the Bureau Chief of the Delinquent Property Tax Bureau as well as delivered by July 15 by mail to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Property Tax Division.

It’s not a flattering amount for Socorro County.

Last year, delinquent taxes totaled $2,368,099.66 for 7,571 parcels of land.

Compared to this year, delinquent taxes total $2,436,272.16 for 7,549 parcels.

While the parcel count is down from the prior year, here is where the parcels are located: 484 are in the City of Socorro, Lemitar, Polvadera, San Acacia and San Antonio; 182 are in the Magdalena area; and three border Lincoln/Torrance counties.

The largest amount of unpaid taxes are properties located in northern Socorro County – 6,880 parcels. Of those parcels, about 4,000 are in the Rio Grande Estates near Veguita.

While the number is a bit shocking, it doesn’t include the amount of taxes owed by mobile homeowners.

According to Rosas, there also are more than 448 delinquent mobile home accounts in Socorro County, which are not included on the delinquent tax list sent to the state. Those unpaid taxes in Socorro County are estimated at $158,801.90.

According to the County Assessor Julie Griego, the tax on mobile homes is based on value just like the land and real property.

If a taxpayer fails to pay taxes after being assessed and demanded to do so after three years, a tax lien is automatically placed on their property through the state’s Motor Vehicle Division.

In neighboring Valencia County, its Manufactured Home Department will submit tax lien information to the Motor Vehicle Department for accounts that are three years delinquent.

However, in McKinley County, the county takes a more aggressive approach. The County Treasurer can seize and sell a mobile home for delinquent property taxes after 30 days.

Leins are placed to make property difficult to transfer since no one would buy a property with someone’s right attached to it.

Once the delinquent tax information is submitted to the state, only property sales conducted by the State are public auctions due to three years or more delinquent property taxes.

The State Taxation and Revenue Department, Property Tax Division conducts all auctions in the county in which the properties are located.

It should be noted that foreclosure sales are conducted by banks, mortgage companies and other private organizations not the county.