The Technology Jobs and Research and Development Tax Credit, governed by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department under NMSA §§ 7-9F-1 to 7-9F-13, incentivizes businesses to conduct qualified research at facilities within the state. This program provides a basic credit against gross receipts, compensating, and withholding taxes, plus an additional credit against income taxes for meeting payroll growth benchmarks, doubling rates for rural locations to promote innovation in technology, manufacturing, and other sectors.
Credits are available to taxpayers conducting qualified research, defined under NMSA 7-9F-3(D) as experimental or laboratory activities to develop or improve a product, manufacturing process, or software, at a qualified facility in New Mexico. Eligibility hinges on entity type, location, and expenditure limits, with mandatory application and auditor review.
New Mexico uses a straightforward percentage-based method on qualified expenditures, with doublings for rural locations and an additional layer for payroll growth. Calculations apply only to NM-sourced QREs up to $5M annually; no incremental base or fixed-base percentage is required. Pre-approval via Form RPD-41385 is mandatory before claiming on Form RPD-41386.
New Mexico's program emphasizes job creation and rural development through tiered incentives, pre-approvals, and small business refunds, distinct from federal rules.
The Technology Jobs and R&D Tax Credit is 5% of qualified research expenses (10% in rural areas) for small businesses, offsetting gross receipts and withholding taxes. Contact Strike Tax to maximize your savings.
Activities must meet federal IRC § 41 criteria and be conducted in New Mexico, including research to improve products or processes. Strike Tax can identify qualifying projects.
For $2M in QREs with payroll growth (non-rural), you could save $200,000 state credits, plus federal. Rural firms double to $400,000. Use Strike Tax’s R&D Credit Calculator for personalized estimates.
Yes, qualified small businesses (<50 employees, ≤$5M QREs) get refunds on excess additional credits after 50% income tax offset. Basic credits are nonrefundable and carry forward 3 years. Strike Tax maximizes refund eligibility.
Submit Form RPD-41385 for pre-approval within 1 year of expenditure year-end, then claim via RPD-41386. Pass-throughs use RPD-41387. Strike Tax handles documentation and filing for compliance.
Yes, stack state and federal credits on the same NM QREs for amplified savings. Strike Tax optimizes dual claims, including federal payroll offsets for startups.
Rural areas include counties with <200,000 population (excluding Bernalillo, Doña Ana, and Santa Fe) or TRD-designated economically distressed areas. Facilities must be located there for 10% rates. Strike Tax confirms eligibility.
Tech firms benefit from payroll-linked additions and rural doublings, with strong utilization in the sector. Three-year carryforward for basic credits provides ongoing value. Strike Tax tailors for NM tech.
Requires $75K growth over prior-year base per $1M QREs claimed, applied to payroll at the qualified facility. Verified via records; unlocks 5% extra (10% rural). Strike Tax calculates benchmarks accurately.
No major statutory changes; program stable post-2015. Monitor TRD for form updates or HB 2 expansions on job ties. Strike Tax tracks compliance shifts.
Use our calculator to estimate your potential federal and state benefits
Schedule a consultation to structure your row crop research activities
Connect with us to find out how R&D tax credits can boost your organization’s bottom line.
New Mexico provides an application for the Technology Jobs and Research and Development Tax Credit using form RPD-41385. Once the application is approved, the credits are claimed using for RPD-41386. Pass-through entities can also take advantage of these credits using Form RPD-41387.
A taxpayer conducting qualified research at a qualified facility and making qualified expenditures is eligible to claim the basic technology jobs and research and development tax credit. The taxpayer is also entitled to an additional credit if annual payroll expenses increase by $75,000 over base payroll for every $1,000,000 in qualified expenditures claimed by the taxpayer in a tax year in the same claim. See the instructions for important definitions and required attachments. To apply for the Technology Jobs and Research and Development Tax Credit, a taxpayer must have qualified expenditures made on or after January 1, 2015.
The credit is equal to 5% of qualified research expenses (or 10% in located in a rural area). The credit is equal to the sum amount of all gross receipts taxes, and 50% of withholding taxes paid on behalf of employees and owners who have no more than 5% ownership in the business. R&D Small Business Tax Credit Offsets 50% of tax liability for that year. To qualify, the business (taxpayers) cannot have employed more than 50 employees, and must not have qualified research expenses of more than $5 Million.
Learn more about New Mexico's R&D Tax Credit from the New Mexico Taxation & Revenue department.
R&D Tax Credit Available:
Yes
Eligible Entities:
C-Corporations, S-Corporations, LLCs, Partnerships
Deadline for Tax Filing:
Application is due within one year following the end of the calendar year in which the qualified expenditure was made.
Data Required to Compute Credit:
Claim Period New Mexico Qualified R&D Expenses (QREs)
What Information is needed?
Expense summary and description of qualified expenditures
Credit Carryforward:
3 Years
Basic Technology Jobs Tax Credit is 5% of Qualified New Mexico Expenditures (or 10% if in a rural area)
Additional Technology Jobs Tax Credit is 5% of Qualified New Mexico Expenditures (or 10% if in a rural area)
The Basic Tax Credit may be applied against the taxpayer’s compensating tax, gross receipts tax, or withholding tax due to the state of New Mexico. No taxpayer may claim an amount of approved basic credit for any reporting period that exceeds the sum of the taxpayer’s gross receipts tax, compensating tax, and withholding tax due for that reporting period.
The Additional Tax Credit may be applied against the taxpayer’s personal or corporate income tax. No taxpayer may claim an amount of additional credit for any reporting period that exceeds the amount of the taxpayer’s personal or corporate income tax due for that reporting period. A husband and wife may each claim only one-half the additional credit. A pass-through entity approved for additional credit may pass the additional credit to its owners, partners, or members using Form RPD-4136.
Qualified Expenditures means any expenditure or allocated portion of an expenditure connected to qualified research at a qualified facility. Such expenditures include the following:
The Qualified Expenditures must be within a Qualified Facility means a factory, mill, plant, refinery, warehouse, dairy, feedlot, building, or complex of buildings located in New Mexico at which qualified research is conducted. These include the land on which the facility is located and all machinery, equipment and other real and tangible personal property located at or within the facility and used in connection with the operation of the facility.
Qualified research and development small businesses may be entitled to a refund of all or a portion of approved additional technology jobs and research and development tax credit. The small business must have fewer than 50 employees, total QREs.
Every application is reviewed by an auditor prior to approval.
To get an estimate of the potential value of your unclaimed R&D Tax Credits, try out our credit calculator.

Download our R&D Tax Credit Calculator for Android to see how much you can receive from your qualified R&D tax credit expenses.
The Technology Jobs and R&D Tax Credit is 5% of qualified research expenses (10% in rural areas) for small businesses, offsetting gross receipts and withholding taxes. Contact Strike Tax to maximize your savings.
Activities must meet federal IRC § 41 criteria and be conducted in New Mexico, including research to improve products or processes. Strike Tax can identify qualifying projects.
For $2M in QREs with payroll growth (non-rural), you could save $200,000 state credits, plus federal. Rural firms double to $400,000. Use Strike Tax’s R&D Credit Calculator for personalized estimates.
Yes, qualified small businesses (<50 employees, ≤$5M QREs) get refunds on excess additional credits after 50% income tax offset. Basic credits are nonrefundable and carry forward 3 years. Strike Tax maximizes refund eligibility.
Submit Form RPD-41385 for pre-approval within 1 year of expenditure year-end, then claim via RPD-41386. Pass-throughs use RPD-41387. Strike Tax handles documentation and filing for compliance.
Yes, stack state and federal credits on the same NM QREs for amplified savings. Strike Tax optimizes dual claims, including federal payroll offsets for startups.
Rural areas include counties with <200,000 population (excluding Bernalillo, Doña Ana, and Santa Fe) or TRD-designated economically distressed areas. Facilities must be located there for 10% rates. Strike Tax confirms eligibility.
Tech firms benefit from payroll-linked additions and rural doublings, with strong utilization in the sector. Three-year carryforward for basic credits provides ongoing value. Strike Tax tailors for NM tech.
Requires $75K growth over prior-year base per $1M QREs claimed, applied to payroll at the qualified facility. Verified via records; unlocks 5% extra (10% rural). Strike Tax calculates benchmarks accurately.
No major statutory changes; program stable post-2015. Monitor TRD for form updates or HB 2 expansions on job ties. Strike Tax tracks compliance shifts.