HOUSE BILL 644

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Daniel R. Foley

AN ACT

RELATING TO TAXATION; DECREASING A TAX RATE ON THE SEVERANCE OF NATURAL GAS TO THE SAME TAX RATE IMPOSED ON THE SEVERANCE OF OIL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 7-31-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1959, Chapter 54, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "7-31-4. PRIVILEGE TAX LEVIED--COLLECTED BY DEPARTMENT--RATE--INTEREST OWNER'S LIABILITY TO STATE--INDIAN LIABILITY.--

          A. There is levied and shall be collected by the department a privilege tax on the business of every person severing products in this state. The measure of the tax shall be:

                (1) on oil and on oil and other liquid hydrocarbons removed from natural gas at or near the wellhead, except as provided in Paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection, three and fifteen hundredths percent of the taxable value determined pursuant to Section 7-31-5 NMSA 1978;

                (2) on carbon dioxide, three and fifteen hundredths percent of the taxable value determined pursuant to Section 7-31-5 NMSA 1978;

                (3) on natural gas, except as provided in Paragraphs (6) and (7) of this subsection, [four] three and fifteen hundredths percent of the taxable value determined pursuant to Section 7-31-5 NMSA 1978;

                (4) on the oil and on other liquid hydrocarbons removed from natural gas at or near the wellhead from a stripper well property, one and fifty-eight hundredths percent of the taxable value determined pursuant to Section 7-31-5 NMSA 1978, provided that the average annual taxable value of oil was equal to or less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) per barrel in the calendar year preceding July 1 of the fiscal year in which the tax rate is to be imposed;

                (5) on the oil and on other liquid hydrocarbons removed from natural gas at or near the wellhead from a stripper well property, two and thirty-six hundredths percent of the taxable value determined pursuant to Section 7-31-5 NMSA 1978, provided that the average annual taxable value of oil was greater than fifteen dollars ($15.00) per barrel but not more than eighteen dollars ($18.00) per barrel in the calendar year preceding July 1 of the fiscal year in which the tax rate is to be imposed;

                (6) on the natural gas removed from a stripper well property, [two] one and fifty-eight hundredths percent of the taxable value determined pursuant to Section 7-31-5 NMSA 1978, provided that the average annual taxable value of natural gas was equal to or less than one dollar fifteen cents ($1.15) per thousand cubic feet in the calendar year preceding July 1 of the fiscal year in which the tax rate is to be imposed; and

                (7) on the natural gas removed from a stripper well property, [three] two and thirty-six hundredths percent of the taxable value determined pursuant to Section 7-31-5 NMSA 1978, provided that the average annual taxable value of natural gas was greater than one dollar fifteen cents ($1.15) per thousand cubic feet but not more than one dollar thirty-five cents ($1.35) per thousand cubic feet in the calendar year preceding July 1 of the fiscal year in which the tax rate is to be imposed.

          B. Every interest owner, for the purpose of levying this tax, is deemed to be in the business of severing products and is liable for this tax to the extent of his interest in the value of the products or to the extent of his interest as may be measured by the value of the products.

          C. Any Indian tribe, Indian pueblo or Indian is liable for this tax to the extent authorized or permitted by law."

     Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--APPLICABILITY.--The tax rates imposed by Section 1 of this act apply to oil and natural gas produced on and after July 1, 2005.

     Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2005.

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