Taxes (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Edgewood: 2009, renting, assessors)

[lisdol]

Originally Posted by mortimer

lisdol posted:

> I pay 13.2 cents per kwh in NM.

But Poncho_NM posted:

> Electricity Rate Comparison by State
#> 17 New Mexico .......... 7.61
#> .... National Average ... 9.64
#> 36 Texas ................. 10.80

That's what my PNM bill says - give or take.

There is actually, a first tier of billing where my use under 200 kWh is
at a lower rate than higher levels. There is a third tier which I never
reach because I use a swamp cooler and not refrigerated air.

CNMEC charges 13.2 cents/kwh, no leveled billing. There is an additional $16/mo administrative fee. We use about 600-650 kwh per month.

PNM is a lot cheaper.

[Tim Rankin]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

To be really honest I haven't seen to much difference in electricity rates between where I lived in Texas and the 3 towns I have lived in NM.

Originally Posted by lisdol

I pay 13.2 cents per kwh in NM. Curious what TX is if NM is so much better. I know GA Power charged a lot less. And that is directed at Tim Rankin, not you, sorry I quoted your post for that.

Sorry I took so long to respond...haven't been on in awhile.

We payed on avg. between 8-9 cents per kWh in Albuq, while our friends in Dallas said they were paying about 15 cents per kWh. Add to that the fact that their summers were typically in the 100's vs. our 90's in the Heights, and their electric bills were just...through the roof.

They had originally thought because they were moving to a "no state tax" state, they would save big bucks. But their homeowners insurance ran almost $4000/yr, and the property taxes were almost $10,000/yr. For a home that cost ½ what their's did, our Albuq. taxes were about $350/yr for homeowners and $2500/yr for property tax. If I double our taxes to adjust for the price of the home, we still would've payed a lot less: $700/yr for insurance vs. their almost $4000, and $5000/yr property taxes vs. their $10,000.

I think part of the super-high homeowners tax was the insurance companies re-capitalizing on a flood of mold-related claims that hit Texas in the 90's [among other reasons].

[weroses]

I haven't really checked power bill lately on kws but we're under a coop here so they charge pretty much what they want our bill is very high for where we live at I think

[ccborg2]

Originally Posted by highdesertmutz

New Mexico is one state that does not tax social security beneficiaries.

In my research of NM, it is 1 of 15 state that does tax social security benefits. Has this changed recently?

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by ccborg2

In my research of NM, it is 1 of 15 state that does tax social security benefits. Has this changed recently?

According to:
Retirement Living Information Center -- Taxes by State

-o- Colorado, [New Mexico] and Utah require that federally untaxed
.... Social Security benefits be added back to federal AGI to calculate
.... the base against which their broad age-determined income
.... exclusions apply.

[jiminnm]

According to the instructions for NM personal income tax - http://www.tax.state.nm.us/forms/yea...08pit1inst.pdf - there is no adjustment to federal adjusted gross income for social security income. So, they are taxable here to the same extent as they are at the federal level (up to 85% of S/S received, depending on your income level).

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by jiminnm

... are taxable here to the same extent as they are at the federal level ...

Sure enough. That site's incorrect. Shoulda' checked the forms first:

PIT-1 & PIT-ADJ

I don't pay that much attention since I'm a long way from getting Social Security and when I *do* start taking it, it will be such a meager benefit that I might be able to eat out once or twice a month from the proceeds.

[MG120]

I currently reside in South Carolina and can't wait to move back to NM. South Carolina is supposedly one of the poorer states and has the worst statistics for almost anything you can imagine.

Home costs are relatively inexpensive compared to a lot of places. I had my house built, 2000 sf on 1/4 acre for 113k. However, the costs associated are fairly high if you ask me.

Property tax runs about 1600 dollars per year, homeowners insurance is around 600. I have all electric and my bill averages about 150 a month year round.

We have a 9 percent sales tax, 7 percent income tax and my personal favorite, the personal property tax. My wifes car is a 2002 and paid for, mine is a 2006 and paid for and we each have a motorcycle. The taxes for this year to license all of them was over 1000 dollars. Yes, that is for 1 year, each and every year.

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by MG120

... Carolina is supposedly one of the poorer states and has the worst statistics for almost anything ...

I think you have the highest-rated governor ...

.... for entertainment value.

[Hombre57]

Originally Posted by MG120

I currently reside in South Carolina and can't wait to move back to NM. South Carolina is supposedly one of the poorer states and has the worst statistics for almost anything you can imagine.

Home costs are relatively inexpensive compared to a lot of places. I had my house built, 2000 sf on 1/4 acre for 113k. However, the costs associated are fairly high if you ask me.

Property tax runs about 1600 dollars per year, homeowners insurance is around 600. I have all electric and my bill averages about 150 a month year round.

We have a 9 percent sales tax, 7 percent income tax and my personal favorite, the personal property tax. My wifes car is a 2002 and paid for, mine is a 2006 and paid for and we each have a motorcycle. The taxes for this year to license all of them was over 1000 dollars. Yes, that is for 1 year, each and every year.

You really need to move out of SC, you're paying alot.

My SS benefit is in the neighborhood of 13.5K, and I pay no state or fed taxes.

Our motor vehicles cost us approximately $100.00 a year to license in New Mexico, we have 2.

We pay no personal property tax.

No tax on food in New Mexico.

Retail Sales Tax in the area we live in is 7.5%.

New Mexico is a great place to retire to, especially the southwestern part, mild winters, very hot and dry summers (excepting the monsoons) which we haven't received much of yet. But, if relocating to s.w. New Mexico, be prepared for mountainous and dry barren desert, not much becomes green and as lush as SC, due to the lack of precipitation. Some people adapt well after moving here, and some people cannot handle it. Best thing to do is visit first, and then draw your own conclusions and opinions.

Nice shot mortimer!