Silver City -- Owners of short-term rental properties in Silver City now have the option of paying their monthly lodgers' tax online, beginning with the October billing cycle. Earlier this year, town management contracted with Avenu Insights & Analytics for the collection of the five-percent lodgers' tax, which is levied on gross rental receipts from stays at local hotels, motels and short-term rental properties. Short-term rentals are defined as offering stays of less than 30 days. Avenu contractors identified 94 short-term rentals, several of which that had not yet been registered with the town.

"We're pleased to be able to offer this convenient payment and tax reporting process online," said Jacqui Olea, Silver City's community development director. "We ask that short-term rental owners carefully review the information packet sent out recently by Avenu Insights, and make sure that they've registered their business with the town."

Owners who have not registered their rental properties are required to do so at the community development department, located on the second floor of the Town Hall Annex at 1203 N. Hudson Street. Instructions on how to register short-term rental properties are included in the information packet, and community development staff are also available to assist with the process.

Short-term rental owners are required to pay lodgers' taxes no later than the 25th of each month and file a report, either online through Avenu, or at the billing department at city hall, 101 W. Broadway Avenue. Rental owners who've previously paid their lodgers' taxes at city hall may continue to do so. Also, reports must be filed monthly even if no income was earned. Earnings from short-term rentals are also subject to the town's 8.2375%  gross receipts tax.

Silver City Lodgers' Tax receipts totaled more than $364,000 in the fiscal year which ended June 30. By law, at least 50 percent of lodgers' taxes collected must be used to promote tourism and related activities, while remaining funds may be used to collect and administer the tax, fund tourism-related facilities, transportation and certain capital improvements. The New Mexico Lodgers’ Tax was originally enacted in 1969, and gives towns and counties within the state the ability to create, impose and collect an occupancy tax for revenues generated within all types of lodging establishments.
For assistance with registering or filing your lodger’s tax, or for more information, please contact taxpayer support at (866) 240-3665, Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:30 pm CST, or by email at supportmuni@avenuinsights.com . To register a short-term rental, contact Maria Stacy, planning technician, at (575) 597-7028 or by email: mstacy@silvercitynm.go v.