Section 7-1-54 - Security for payment of tax.
7-1-54. Security for payment of tax.
A. Whenever it is necessary to ensure payment of any tax due or reasonably expected to become due, the department is authorized to require or allow any person subject to the provisions of the Tax Administration Act [7-1-1 NMSA 1978] to furnish an acceptable surety bond in an appropriate amount, payable to the state and conditioned upon the payment to the state of the taxes therein identified on a date no later than that on which his liability for the payment thereof becomes conclusive, or to furnish other acceptable security in an appropriate amount and to require any person to furnish additional security as becomes necessary.
B. If, after notice of a requirement that he furnish security, any person neglects or refuses to comply, the department may demand of him by certified mail or in person that he furnish security in a stated amount. Upon the failure of any person to comply within ten days of the date of the making of such demand upon him for the furnishing of security, the secretary may institute a proceeding to enjoin him from doing business as provided in Section 7-1-53 NMSA 1978.
C. When a serious and immediate risk exists that an amount of tax due or reasonably expected to become due will not be paid, the secretary may require any person liable or prospectively liable for tax to furnish security as otherwise provided in the Tax Administration Act, and, upon a refusal by the person immediately to comply with the requirement, the secretary may without further notice of any kind apply to any district court of the state for an injunction as provided in Section 7-1-53 NMSA 1978.
D. The secretary may require taxpayers who protest, in accordance with Section 7-1-24 NMSA 1978, an assessment or the payment of any tax administered by the department under Subsection B of Section 7-1-2 NMSA 1978 to furnish security pursuant to this section with respect to amounts in excess of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) whenever the total amount protested, whether by a single protest or a series of protests by a single taxpayer with respect to one or more tax acts administered by the department under Subsection B of Section 7-1-2 NMSA 1978, exceeds two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). If the taxpayer fails to provide security as required by this subsection, the department may take all appropriate actions authorized by the Tax Administration Act to collect the amount assessed, provided that any proceeds collected shall be held as the security required by this subsection until the protest is resolved.