Food Tax
Issue Summary
The Threat to Reimpose the Food Tax
In late 2009, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce proposed that New Mexico reimpose the tax on food. Think New Mexico is actively fighting this threat, which would take $250 a year out of the pockets of the average family of four. Instead of the regressive and anti-family food tax, Think New Mexico is advocating for an alternate proposal to tax junk food, which would raise approximately $25 million a year while leaving necessities like fruits and vegetables and baby food tax-free. Check back here for updates on this effort!
The Repeal of New Mexico's Food Tax
In late 2001, with the release of our fourth policy report, Think New Mexico launched a campaign to repeal New Mexico's food tax.
At that time, New Mexico was one of only nine states that continued to fully tax food, along with Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia. This antiquated tax was extremely regressive, burdened working families, and worsened the state's hunger problem.
Our bipartisan legislation to abolish the food tax came extremely close to passing in the 2002 legislative session, but ran out of time at the very end of the session. In 2004, Think New Mexico teamed up with Governor Bill Richardson and House Speaker Ben Lujan to champion a successful bill to repeal the taxes on both groceries and selected medical services.
As of January 1, 2005, food is exempt from taxation in New Mexico.
Get Involved
Contact Your Legislators
The food tax was repealed in part because, during the 2004 legislative session, many Think New Mexico supporters wrote and emailed their legislators urging them to support the food tax repeal -- and legislators responded by putting in long hours to ensure that the food tax repeal bill was successful. Now that policymakers are considering reimposing the food tax, your voices can make a critical difference once again.
Click here to ask your legislators not to reimpose the food tax - you can compose and send emails or letters to them directly from Think New Mexico's Action Center.
Vocal public support of abolishing the food tax played a big part in making it happen.
Legislators and the Governor were attentive and responsive to the many letters to the editor that called for an end to the food tax.
We encourage you to express your opposition to the reimposition of the food tax through the media, as well as directly to your representatives.
The Media section of Think New Mexico's Action Center provides the names and contact information for your local media, including newspapers, radio stations, and television stations, and you can compose and send any of them an email or letter right from the page.
Resources & Media
Read Think New Mexico's policy report on repealing the food tax
New! Coalition Opposed to the Reimposition of the Food Tax, 2009-2010
New! Blogger Joe Monahan Declares that the Effort to Reimpose the Food Tax Has Been Defeated
Read what New Mexicans are saying about the food tax
Read Deming Headlight editorial opposing the reimposition of the food tax • January 1, 2010
Read Taos News editorial opposing the reimposition of the food tax • January 7, 2010
Read Rio Grande Sun editorial opposing the reimposition of the food tax • December 17, 2009
Read the opinion editorial by Think New Mexico and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops opposing the reimposition of the food tax, which has been published in 23 newspapers across the state, including the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, and the Rio Grande Sun • December 2009
Read Santa Fe New Mexican article about how all five gubernatorial candidates oppose the reimposition of the food tax • December 22, 2009
Coalition in Support of the Food Tax Repeal, 2001-2004
Update: According to a 2009 report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, only Alabama and Mississippi still fully tax the sale of food
Map by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Update: Stateline Article on food tax repeal efforts in other states • January 29, 2007
Questions about how the food tax repeal affects you as a consumer or business? Check out the New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department's Fact Sheet on the Food Tax Deduction or the other resources available on the agency's website.
Newspaper Articles & Editorials
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial lauding the implementation of the food tax repeal • January 5, 2005
Read Las Vegas Daily Optic editorial celebrating the repeal of the food tax • January 4, 2005
Read Albuquerque Tribune article "Shoppers Praise End to Food Tax" • December 30, 2004
Read Ruidoso News article on passage of food tax repeal legislation • December 24, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial on food tax repeal legislation • February 20, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican article about Think New Mexico's food tax repeal bill, championed by Governor Richardson and House Speaker Ben Lujan • February 7, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican article on Governor Richardson's support for the food tax repeal • January 10, 2004
Read Think New Mexico's opinion editorials on repealing the food tax • January 2003 • August 2003
Read Associated Press article about how New Mexico's food tax burdens working families • January 19, 2002
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial on the food tax repeal • November 4, 2001
