§2145.  Movable property; additional sanction for tax collection

A.  When it is necessary, the tax collector shall seize, advertise in the manner provided for judicial advertisement, and sell any other property belonging to the tax debtor to collect the taxes, interest, and costs due by the debtor for whatever it will bring in cash, without appraisement, and in such case, the tax collector shall make sales of the property of delinquent tax debtors as often as he is able to find any property of the debtors, until all the taxes, interest, and costs due by them are paid.

B.  If the collector cannot make a seizure of the movable property liable for the tax assessed against it, either because of the nature of the property assessed or because the owner or his representative holds it in his possession or under his control in such a manner that the tax collector cannot lay hands upon it and refuses on demand to deliver the same to the tax collector, the tax collector shall have the power to seize any other property belonging to the tax debtor, or he may take into the court having jurisdiction of the subject matter a summary rule upon the person assessed or his representative, as the case may be, returnable in five days, in vacation as well as term time, to compel the delivery to him of said property or so much thereof, if the same be divisible in kind, as may be necessary to realize at public sale the amount of the taxes, costs, and penalties.  All answers to rules shall be in writing and shall set forth specifically all defenses relied on by the tax delinquent and shall be made on or before the time in which the rule is made returnable.  If the tax collector employs the services of an attorney to bring a summary rule to compel delivery of property, the tax debtor shall pay the sum of twenty percent of the taxes, penalties, and interest due by the debtor, as attorney fees, which amount shall be collectable in the same manner as the taxes, interest, penalties, and costs due by such debtor.

C.  The tax collector is authorized to seize and sell any growing or gathered crops or shares therein whenever such seizure may be necessary to collect taxes assessed.  The tax collector is also authorized to proceed in the courts to procure the garnishment of any salary, compensation, or reward for personal services, or of any obligations, rights, credits, or debts due to the tax debtor in any form whatever whenever such garnishment may be necessary to collect such taxes.  No deposits or security for costs shall be required in such cases.

D.  The state and its subdivisions and all cities, towns, and villages shall have a first lien and privilege on all movable property for the payment of all taxes on personal property, in all judicial or insolvency proceedings, receiverships, or liquidations, whether seizure has been made or not, for such taxes previous to such proceedings, receiverships, or liquidations.

E.  All movable property sold at tax sales shall be immediately delivered without the right of redemption into actual possession of the purchaser by the tax collector, who shall have full authority and power to make all the seizures necessary to take and deliver such actual possession.

F.  However, if the tax collector is unable to locate the debtor, any of the movable property liable for the said tax, or any other movable property belonging to the tax debtor, the said tax collector shall make a notation on the tax rolls "NO PROPERTY FOUND". Making such notation on the tax rolls shall relieve said tax collector from any further obligation for the collection of said tax, provided, however, nothing herein shall discharge the obligation of the tax debtor, and if property is found or the tax debtor is located, the tax collector shall proceed to collect such taxes as are due.

Acts 2008, No. 819, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 507, §1.