Tax credits are a matter of legislative grace that can be broadened, constricted or eliminated at any time. See Silverman v. Town of Alton, 451 A.2d 103, 105 (Me. 1982); Murphy v. Taxation Revenue Dept., 94 N.M. 90, 607 P.2d 628, 631 (1979). It is, therefore, not unreasonable to assume that the legislature intended a tighter definition of those sources of Maine income taxable to nonresidents than those sources of foreign income for which Maine residents receive a credit for taxes paid to that foreign jurisdiction.
See Team Specialty Prods., Inc. , 2005-NMCA-020, ¶ 9, 107 P.3d 4 (stating that "[t]ax credits are strictly matters of legislative grace and are to be construed against the taxpayer.") (quoting Murphy v. Taxation & Revenue Dep't , 1979-NMCA-065, ¶ 20, 94 N.M. 90, 607 P.2d 628 ); see also TPL, Inc. v. New Mexico Tax'n & Revenue Dep't , 2003-NMSC-007, ¶ 31, 133 N.M. 447, 64 P.3d 474 (stating that "the burden of proof is on the taxpayer to prove that it is eligible for the deduction."). The CHO noted the appropriate burden that a taxpayer bears in a tax credit case and found that PESCO had met this burden.
As well, tax exemptions and deductions "are a matter of legislative grace and a way of achieving policy objectives" and are to be "construed against the taxpayer." Sutin, Thayer & Browne v. N.M. Taxation & Revenue Dep't, 1985-NMCA-047, ¶ 17, 104 N.M. 633, 725 P.2d 833; Murphy v. N.M. Taxation & Revenue Dep't, 1979-NMCA-065, ¶ 20, 94 N.M. 90, 607 P.2d 628. It is the taxpayer's burden to establish that it is entitled to a given deduction.
{14} To reiterate: tax exemptions and deductions "are a matter of legislative grace and a way of achieving policy objectives" and are to be "construed against the taxpayer." Sutin, Thayer & Browne v. N.M. Taxation & Revenue Dep’t , 1985-NMCA-047, ¶ 17, 104 N.M. 633, 725 P.2d 833 ; Murphy v. N.M. Taxation & Revenue Dep’t , 1979-NMCA-065, ¶ 20, 94 N.M. 90, 607 P.2d 628. It is the taxpayer’s burden to establish that it is entitled to the deduction.
We are guided by the principle that "[t]ax credits are strictly matters of legislative grace and are to be construed against the taxpayer." Murphy v. Taxation Revenue Dep't, 94 N.M. 90, 93, 607 P.2d 628, 631 (Ct.App. 1979). {10} Taxpayer argues the classic distinction between "shall" and "may" in statutory construction.