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Published: October 01, 2026 | Reading time: 3 minutes
New Mexico raised its weight-distance tax by about 35% on July 1, 2026, the first increase since 2004. If you file New Mexico weight-distance returns, your third-quarter return covers the first full quarter at the new rates and is due October 31.
New Mexico's legislature passed a highway funding bill this year, Senate Bill 2, and the governor signed it in February. Starting July 1, it raised the weight-distance rate for every weight class by about 35%.
You figure the tax the same way: multiply your New Mexico miles by the rate for your declared gross weight.
Say you run an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer and put 10,000 miles on it in New Mexico in one quarter.
|
Rate per 1,000 NM miles |
Tax on 10,000 NM miles |
| Before July 1 |
$43.78 |
$437.80 |
| Since July 1 |
$59.10 |
$591.00 |
| You pay more |
+$15.32 |
+$153.20 a quarter |
Per mile, that's about 4.4 cents before July 1 and 5.9 cents now.
Here's how a few other weight classes changed:
| Declared gross weight (lbs) |
Old rate per 1,000 NM miles |
New rate per 1,000 NM miles |
Increase |
| 26,001-28,000 |
$11.01 |
$14.86 |
+$3.85 |
| 38,001-40,000 |
$16.73 |
$22.59 |
+$5.86 |
| 54,001-56,000 |
$27.29 |
$36.84 |
+$9.55 |
| 68,001-70,000 |
$36.52 |
$49.30 |
+$12.78 |
| 78,001 and over |
$43.78 |
$59.10 |
+$15.32 |
The full schedule has 27 weight classes in 2,000-pound steps. You'll find it in Section 1 of the bill, linked under Sources below.
The tax applies to trucks with a declared gross weight over 26,000 pounds that are registered in New Mexico or registered under IRP, the multi-state apportioned registration. Interstate and intrastate carriers both owe it. A truck without that registration usually pays the state's trip tax at the port of entry instead. That's a separate tax, and this bill didn't change it.
Trucks classified as one-way haul still pay two-thirds of the full rate if they meet the empty-mile rules. Ask us if yours qualifies.
Most accounts file every quarter, even in a quarter with zero New Mexico miles.
Your Q3 return covers July 1 through September 30. Check two things before you file:
- Budget for the higher payment. Multiply your Q3 New Mexico miles by the new rate for your weight class. The return is due October 31.
- Update your rate sheet. If you estimate New Mexico costs in software or a spreadsheet, check your rate. If an 80,000-pound truck still shows $43.78 per 1,000 miles (0.04378 a mile), it's out of date.
We file New Mexico weight-distance returns every quarter, along with IFTA and the mileage taxes in New York, Oregon, Kentucky and Connecticut. For each truck, we pull your New Mexico miles and apply the current rate for its weight class. If you run New Mexico only a few times a year, we track the quarters so every return goes in on time.
Need help with your New Mexico return? Call us at 651-482-1124 or contact us online.
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