Legislative auditors estimate New Mexico fails to collect as much as $56 million in yearly tax revenue from the trucking industry because of inadequate enforcement.
Legislative Finance Committee auditors said in a report Thursday the state should beef up the Motor Transportation Division's staff and hire more tax agency auditors to ensure truckers pay a weight-distance tax that helps finance highway construction and maintenance.
The state received nearly $73 million in revenue in 2012 from the tax that's based on a truck's weight and how far it travels in the state.
The division enforces tax collection by issuing citations to truckers who aren't in compliance. Its staff also inspects trucks for safety violations and contraband including illegal drugs and collects fees at ports of entry across the state.
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