15-1-701. Warrant for distraint. (1) A warrant for distraint is an order, under the official seal of the department or of the department of transportation, directed to a sheriff of a county of Montana or to an agent authorized by law to collect a tax. The order commands the recipient to levy on and sell the real and personal property of a delinquent taxpayer.

(2) (a) On filing the warrant as provided in 15-1-704, there is a lien:

(i) against all real and personal property of the delinquent taxpayer located in the county where the warrant is filed; and

(ii) against money of the delinquent taxpayer in the state limited to:

(A) all funds in demand, savings, or time deposits held in banking institutions in which a delinquent taxpayer has ownership interest;

(B) wages and compensation owed to a delinquent taxpayer; and

(C) stock, equity interests, and investment accounts in which the delinquent taxpayer has ownership interest.

(b) The lien provided for in subsection (2)(a)(ii):

(i) may attach to the money in any county of the state, regardless of the location of the delinquent taxpayer or the county in which the warrant is filed. However, until the execution of the warrant and notice of levy occurs as provided in 15-1-706, the property described in subsection (2)(a)(ii) is not subject to or affected by the lien; and

(ii) may not be enforced against a delinquent taxpayer's money received by and in the possession of a person in a county where the warrant is not filed if the recipient had no actual notice or no actual knowledge of the execution of the warrant and notice of levy that created the lien.

(3) The resulting lien in subsection (2) is treated in the same manner as a properly docketed judgment lien, the department is a judgment lien creditor, and the department may collect delinquent taxes and enforce the tax lien in the same manner as a judgment is enforced, except that the department may enforce the judgment lien at any time within 10 years of its creation or effective date, whichever is later.

(4) A warrant may be issued for the amount of unpaid tax plus accumulated penalty, if any, and accumulated interest. The lien is for the amount indicated on the warrant plus accrued penalty and interest from the date of the warrant. The priority date of the tax lien created by filing the warrant for distraint is the date the tax was due as indicated on the warrant for distraint.

(5) The accelerated priority date provided for in subsection (4) is not valid against purchasers, holders of security interests, judgment lien creditors, and those lienholders identified in Title 71, chapter 3, parts 3 through 15, whose interest is recorded prior to the filing of the warrant for distraint.