Frequently Asked Questions

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It is our intention to provide you with helpful information and answers to the most commonly asked questions.

For a detailed answer, please click on any of the questions below.

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When are tax bills usually mailed?

Tax bills are mailed November 1 every year.

When is the first half tax due?

NOTE: The 2019 tax bills are delayed and will be mailed on Dec. 9 due to recent legislative actions via HB407. The first half of 2019 property taxes are due Dec. 19. Please see our 2019 Property Tax Delay page for complete information.

Typically the first half tax payment is due November 10 and becomes delinquent if not paid by December 10 (each year.) The second half is due April 10 and becomes delinquent after May 10 (each year). The second half schedule will continue as usual.

Are there any late fees imposed if the taxes are not paid on time?

Yes. Delinquency charges for property taxes are:

One percent of the base tax due per month for interest until paid.
One percent of the base tax due per month for penalty. Maximum penalty is five percent, minimum penalty is $5.

Do people have to go to the Treasurer's Office to pay their taxes?

No. Payments may be:

Paid online at www.bernco.gov/treasurer.
Paid in person at the Bernalillo County Treasury located at the Government Center, One Civic Plaza, NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 - Lower level 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. This address can also be used as a mail address for payments by UPS, FedEx, etc.
Mailed to Bernalillo County Treasurer, PO Box 27800 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7800 or placed in drop boxes throughout the county (see below).
At local banks and credit unions from Nov. 1 – Dec. 10 and April 1 – May 10. For a list of participating banks, please email the Bernalillo County Treasurer's Office at treasurers@bernco.gov. Banks that partner with Bernalillo County change every year, so please reach out to us for the most current list.

How can I pay my property tax online?

Follow step-by-step instructions on the www.bernco.gov/treasurer website.

Can I use a credit card to pay my property taxes?

Yes.

Cash, check, credit and debit cards are accepted at the Treasurer’s Office.
Credit cards and E-checks are accepted online.

Note: A convenience fee is charged by the third party payment processing company when taxes are paid with a credit card, debit card, or an E-check.

I signed up for the Automated Payment Option. Will I receive a tax bill or a confirmation notice?

Yes, you will receive both. After receiving your property tax bill you will receive a notice confirming your enrollment in the automated payment option process. If you need help, the confirmation notice has contact information; or you may call (505) 468-7031.

How may an individual find out what their taxes are if a bill is not received?

If you have not received a property tax bill by Nov. 7, call the Treasurer's Office at (505) 468-7031. A public service representative will print and mail a replacement tax bill notice. The representative will confirm where your tax bill was mailed and how to correct the problem. You may also search tax records on the web site www.bernco.gov/treasurer by parcel ID number (the most reliable way) or by property address. Please include the parcel ID number on your check or money order to ensure payment is credited correctly.

Do I receive a property tax bill if my mortgage company pays my taxes?

Yes, every property owner in Bernalillo County is mailed a property tax bill even if the property taxes are paid by the mortgage company. Your copy of the property tax bill indicates that your mortgage company has been billed.

What do I need to do if the mortgage company name on the tax bill is not my mortgage company?

If the mortgage company name on your bill is wrong, call your correct mortgage company to find out what they want you to do. The Treasurer's Office cannot fix this problem. You need to resolve this issue with your mortgage company. The information on your tax bill comes directly from the mortgage company.

What do I do if I paid off my mortgage and a mortgage company name appears on my tax bill?

Detach the coupon(s) at the bottom of your tax bill and mail the coupon(s) with your payment no later than the due date(s) to the Treasurer’s office at Bernalillo County Treasurer, PO Box 27800 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7800. Notify the mortgage company to remove their name from your future tax bills.

I filed a valuation protest at the County Assessor's Office and I haven't heard anything. Do I still have to pay my property taxes by December 10th?

Check your tax bill to determine if the value of your property is correct. If not, according to state law, you must pay at least the amount of tax due on the un-protested value of your property by December 10. The un-protested value is the amount that you thought your property should be valued when you completed your protest form. To determine how much tax you should pay on the un-protested value, contact the Treasurer's Office at (505) 468-7031 to have your property taxes computed. The county recommends that you pay the first half amount due on the original bill. If your protest is approved, a new tax bill will be prepared with a new delinquency date and any overpayment will be refunded to you or applied to the second half of your tax bill, whichever you choose. If the protest is not approved, you will already have paid the first half and will not owe delinquency charges. If you have only paid on the un-protested amount and your protest is disapproved, you will be liable for delinquency charges on the unpaid amount of taxes.

I did not file a protest at the Assessor's Office but I want to protest my taxes. What do I do?

According to State Law, 7-38-39 &-40 NMSA 1978, you must file a claim for refund in District Court no later than January10 of the current tax year. Prior to filing, you must pay the amount due on your property tax bill.

I didn't receive my property tax bill and it is now past the delinquency date; do I have to pay delinquency charges?

According to 7-38-36 NMSA 1978, a taxpayer is still liable for taxes and any other associated charges even though a tax bill was not received.

How many bills are returned to the Treasurer's Office?

We typically have approximately 13,000 tax bills returned to us for various reasons, i.e. moved with no forwarding address, forwarding notice expired, wrong address, no mail receptacle, no such address, etc.

How much money is the Treasurer's Office responsible for collecting in property taxes?

The Treasurer’s Office was responsible for collecting approximately $613 million in tax year 2013.

How is the collected property tax money distributed?

Property taxes collected in a given month are distributed the following month. The taxes are collected based on the area one lives in. For example, if you do not live in an area that is in the boundaries of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), a portion of your taxes will not be distributed to that entity. If you do live in an area that is within the boundaries of the (MRGCD) a portion of your taxes will be distributed to that entity. The Treasurer’s Office is tasked with collecting taxes and distributing taxes to 19 government agencies, including Albuquerque Public Schools, 45 charter schools and the State of New Mexico. Approximately 70 percent of taxes collected by the Treasurer’s Office are distributed; the county retains the remainder.

I'm going to be out of town when my property tax bill arrives. How can I make arrangements to pay my bill to avoid delinquency charges?

Property tax bills are available at the Treasurer’s web site November 1 of each year, or you may contact the Treasurer’s office at (505) 468-7031.

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