New Mexico landowners and ranchers are decrying the state's claims that they may owe thousands of dollars in taxes on the sale of elk-hunting permits.
The state Taxation and Revenue Department is attempting to collect back taxes on transferable license authorizations landowners got from the Department of Game and Fish and sold.
The agency has sent out hundreds of notices in the past few months.
New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association executive director Caren Cowan says the collection effort has "turned the landowner industry on its head."
Some landowners are allotted authorizations that are converted to actual hunting licenses and they can sell them to hunters or outfitting companies.
According to the state, receipts from those sales are subject to gross receipts tax.
___
Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.