Section 7-38-71 - Distribution of amounts received from sale of property. - New Mexico Statutes

7-38-71. Distribution of amounts received from sale of property.

A.     Money received by the department from the sale of real or personal property for delinquent property taxes shall be deposited in a suspense fund and distributed as follows:   

(1)     first, that portion equal to the costs shall be retained by the department for use, subject to appropriation by the legislature, in administration of the Property Tax Code [Articles 35 to 38 of Chapter 7 NMSA 1978];   

(2)     second, that portion equal to the penalties and interest due shall be retained by the department for use, subject to appropriation by the legislature, by the department in administration of the Property Tax Code;   

(3)     third, that portion equal to the delinquent taxes due shall be remitted by the department to the appropriate county treasurer for distribution by the treasurer to the governmental units in accordance with the law and the regulations of the department of finance and administration; and   

(4)     the balance shall be paid to the former owner of the property sold or to any other person designated by order directed to the department by a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that the department may first apply all or any portion of the balance to be paid against the amount of any property tax, including any penalty and interest related thereto, owed by the person to whom the balance would otherwise be paid.   

B.     As a condition precedent to payment of the balance of the sale amount received to the former owner of the property, the department may require any person claiming to be entitled to that payment to present sufficient evidence of proof of former ownership of the property to the department. The department shall adopt regulations providing for the procedures to be followed by persons claiming sale proceeds as former owners in those instances where conflicting claims exist or the department requires proof of ownership.   

C.     If no person claims the balance of sale proceeds, whether the property was sold under the provisions of the Property Tax Code or prior law, as the former owner of the property within two years of the date of the sale and after a reasonable search to determine the former owner is made by the department and no former owner is found, the balance of the sale proceeds shall be considered abandoned property and deposited in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act [7-8A-1 NMSA 1978].   

D.     If the balance of proceeds from the sale after paying a higher priority claim under Subsection A of this section is insufficient to pay all of the next priority claim, then the complete balance shall be applied to that next priority claim as partial payment.