First-half tax bills mailed; payment due by Dec. 10

Bulletin report

Doña Ana County Treasurer David Gutierrez has mailed 2016’s first-half property tax bills, and he reminds property owners that they have until Dec. 10 to pay their first-half property taxes before state-mandated interest and penalties begin to accumulate.

Citing convenience as a priority for his office, Gutierrez said payments can be made in a number of ways, such as:

 By mailing payment to the Treasurer’s Office using the self-addressed envelope provided with the tax notice.

 In person at the Treasurer’s Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 845 Motel Blvd., in Las Cruces,

 By using the indoor drop box, located near the Treasurer’s Office teller windows.

 Online with a credit or debit card, or via electronic checks at www.donaanacounty.org/tax/ or by phone at 877-458-2425. There is a nominal fee for this service.

For property owners whose taxes are paid by an escrow holder, the tax bill will be sent directly to the escrow holder.

Property owners who have not paid their taxes in full and did not receive reminders should immediately contact the Treasurer’s Office at 575-647-7433.

“We make every effort to notify every property owner of their tax obligations,” Gutierrez said. “We have already sent out more than 68,000 first-half reminders. If for some reason you haven’t paid your property taxes, please don’t miss the Dec. 10 deadline.”

Gutierrez said the only way for property owners to avoid penalties and interest is by making arrangements to pay property taxes on time. Once penalty and interest are incurred, there is no provision in the state’s tax code to remove the charges from an account.