Los Alamos County raises gross receipts tax to 7.6875% July 1

Los Alamos County's gross receipts tax rose to 7.6875 percent on July 1, increasing the combined rate by 0.625 percentage points from 7.0625 percent. That change now shows up on taxable purchases across Los Alamos and White Rock, from a quick retail stop to a larger household bill.

County Council approved the increase on Oct. 28, 2025, through Ordinances 747 and 748. County state-of-the-county material tied the move to the broader effort to preserve services and strengthen future financial stability, putting the tax change inside a longer budget strategy rather than treating it as a one-off adjustment.

For shoppers, the difference is easy to see in the total at the register. A $10 taxable purchase now carries about 6 cents more in tax than it did on June 30. A $20 purchase adds about 13 cents, a $50 purchase about 31 cents, and a $100 taxable bill about 63 cents more. In a county where gross receipts tax is one of the most important revenue streams, those small additions matter one transaction at a time.

The higher rate also affects local businesses that collect the tax and send it on, especially retailers, restaurants and service providers serving both Los Alamos and White Rock. It changes pricing conversations, cash register settings and the way owners explain receipts to customers who may notice the tax line climb before they notice anything else.

Because the county leans so heavily on gross receipts tax, the July 1 increase is one of the most direct fiscal shifts affecting daily life in the community. Residents paying the higher rate will be looking for a clear return in the services county leaders said they were trying to protect, and for evidence that the added revenue helps shore up the county’s finances over time.