(A) Every vendor providing lodgings within this city shall collect the occupancy tax thereon on behalf of the city and shall act as a trustee therefor.
(B) The occupancy tax shall be collected from vendees in accordance with this section and shall be charged separately from the rent fixed by the vendor for the lodgings.
(C) On and after June 1, 1969, each vendor shall be liable to the city for the tax provided herein on the rent paid for lodging.
(D) (1) Each vendor shall make a report by the 25th day of each month on forms provided by the Mayor of the receipts for lodging paid to him in the preceding calendar month and shall remit therewith payment of the total amount of the occupancy tax due to the city. The report shall include sufficient information to enable the city to audit the report and shall be verified on oath by the vendor. Each vendor shall make the required report for each reporting period whether or not any tax is due. If no gross taxable rent has been collected for that reporting period, such information shall be reported. Occupancy taxes not paid and posted to the city's Lodgers Subsidiary Ledger Vendors' Account by the 25th of the month as provided herein shall be considered delinquent.
(2) If the 25th day of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, the return shall be due on the next business day.
(E) The Mayor shall select for annual random audits one or more vendors to verify the amount of gross rent subject to the occupancy tax and to ensure that the full amount of occupancy tax on that rent is collected. Copies of audits completed shall be filed with the State of New Mexico local government division of the Department of Finance and Administration.
(F) Failure to notify the Mayor within 30 working days of a change of ownership on a taxable premises shall subject vendor to a $500 penalty.
('74 Code, § 4-2-7) (Ord. 80- 1969; Am. Ord. 50-1982; Am. Ord. 56-1993; Am. Ord. 24-2001; Am. Ord. 38-2002; Am. Ord. 2019-024; Am. Ord. 2021-022) Penalty, see §4-4-99