15-17-326. Voided sale -- refund -- limitation on action for royalty interest. (1) If a tax sale held under the provisions of this chapter is declared void by a court for irregularity in the assessment, levy, or sale, the money paid by the purchaser at the sale or by any assignee must be refunded, with interest at the rate payable upon delinquencies as provided in 15-16-102 from the date of the payment, to the purchaser or owner of the tax sale certificate, together with any penalty paid by the purchaser.
     (2) Following the payment of a refund as provided in subsection (1), the county is considered the purchaser and has a property tax lien upon the property for the legal taxes on the property accruing from the date of delinquency, plus penalties and interest as provided in 15-16-102. Any money refunded that was received as provided in 15-17-212 and distributed by the treasurer to the state or a city, town, or district must be charged to the state, city, town, or district, respectively, by the treasurer and deducted from the next money due the state, city, town, or district on account of taxes paid or collected. A purchaser of a property tax lien or owner thereof by assignment where sales have been made by a city or town which by resolution or ordinance collects its own taxes instead of having the same collected by the county treasurer must be reimbursed in similar manner and in similar circumstances out of the city or town treasury upon order of the mayor or, where applicable, the city manager or chairman of the city commission. The city or town clerk or city or town treasurer, as appropriate, shall make proper charges and deductions against the respective funds of the city or town upon the next collection of taxes by the city or town.
     (3) The purchaser has a lien upon the property for the amount of taxes, penalties, interest, and costs paid, with the interest to be at the rate specified for delinquencies in 15-16-102. If the purchaser is in possession of the property and resides thereon, he may not be ejected from the property until his lien has been liquidated.
     (4) All affirmative defenses at law or equity, including but not limited to estoppel, laches, and adverse possession, may apply in a suit brought to challenge the title to a royalty interest in land claimed to have been acquired by a county by tax deed.
     (5) An action against a county to recover a royalty interest in land acquired by the county by tax deed must be brought within the period prescribed in 27-2-210.

     History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 587, L. 1987.