New Mexico: Sales Tax Handbook
What is included in New Mexico's sales tax basis?
Many times, an otherwise-taxable transaction will include bundled fees like excise taxes, installation fees, or finance charges or be modified with coupons, installment payment plans, etc. One question that will often arise is whether or not a certain payment or fee is included in a transaction's taxable basis.
The taxable basis refers to the portion of an entire transaction that is subject to New Mexico's sales tax. This page answers common questions about which common fees are included in the sales tax basis in New Mexico, and which are excluded.
Contents
- Are coupons and discounts included in the sales tax basis?
- Are excise taxes included in the included in the sales tax basis?
- How are installment-based sales taxed?
- Are installation fees included in the sales tax basis?
- Are finance charges included in the sales tax basis?
- Can I get a refund on sales taxes paid on returned or repossessed items?
- Can I get a refund on sales taxes paid on bad debts?
Inclusion in Sales Tax Basis
Are coupons and cash discounts included in the New Mexico sales tax basis?
What is not included are cash discounts and retailers coupons, while manufacturers coupons are included.
TopAre excise taxes included in the New Mexico sales tax basis?
Excise taxes 
are separate levies added by many states to the price of commodity items such as alcohol, gasoline, etc.
What is not included are gross receipts taxes, federal communication excise tax, and air transportation excise tax. However, the federal manufacturers excise tax and cigarette tax are included.
How are installment-based sales taxed?
Many businesses offer customers payment plans that allow them to pay the full price for a product over time in installments, often leading to confusion about when and how much sales tax is collected and remitted to New Mexico. The state has implemented the following provisions regarding installment sales:
Payments reported as received
Are installation charges included in the New Mexico sales tax basis?
While the taxation of tangible goods is relatively straightforward, some states consider the installation costs associated with a tangible object (like carpeting, a home or vehicle fixture, etc) to be taxable. New Mexico policy states:
Installation charges are generally excluded from the taxable price of a tangible product.
Are finance charges included in the New Mexico sales tax basis?
Many businesses offer customers financing on higher-value products, and include financing charges in the overall cost of the item. These finance charges may also be subject to sales taxes. New Mexico policy states:
Finance charges are generally included in the taxable price of a tangible product.
How can I get reimbursed for sales taxes paid on items that are returned or repossessed?
If a taxable good for which sales tax has been collected is returned or reposessed by the merchant, the state may allow the amount of sales tax collected to be either deducted from the merchant's current sales tax balance or refunded to the merchant by the state. New Mexico's policies state that returns and repossessions are:
Deductible
Note: A retailer that reports on an accrual basis may deduct amounts written off as uncollectible debt for the amount credited to a buyer from whom property was repossessed
How can I get reimbursed for sales taxes paid on bad debts?
If a merchant offers goods to a consumer on credit and the payment for those goods becomes delinquent, the merchant may be eligible to be reimbursed any sales tax they paid to the state on the consumer's behalf when the transaction was made. The method of reimbursement varies state by state.
Tax paid on bad debts can generally be recovered by the merchant as a deduction.
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