77-1818 Real property taxes; certificate of purchase; lien of purchaser; subsequent taxes. - Nebraska Statutes

77-1818. Real property taxes; certificate of purchase; lien of purchaser; subsequent taxes.The purchaser of any real property sold by the county treasurer for taxes shall be entitled to a certificate in writing, describing the real property so purchased, the sum paid, and the time when the purchaser will be entitled to a deed, which certificate shall be signed by the treasurer in his or her official capacity and shall be presumptive evidence of the regularity of all prior proceedings. The purchaser acquires a perpetual lien of the tax on the real property, and if after the taxes become delinquent he or she subsequently pays any taxes levied on the property, whether levied for any year or years previous or subsequent to such sale, he or she shall have the same lien for them and may add them to the amount paid by him or her in the purchase. SourceLaws 1903, c. 73, § 209, p. 464; R.S.1913, § 6537; C.S.1922, § 6065; C.S.1929, § 77-2017; R.S.1943, § 77-1818; Laws 1992, LB 1063, § 149; Laws 1992, Second Spec. Sess., LB 1, § 122. Annotations1. Presumption of validity2. Lien3. Effect of sale4. Subrogation5. Miscellaneous1. Presumption of validityHolder of tax sale certificate is relieved of the necessity, in the first instance, of proving that every requirement of the statute has been followed to establish that property is subject to the lien of his certificate. City of Scottsbluff v. Kennedy, 141 Neb. 728, 4 N.W.2d 878 (1942).Sale certificate and receipts are prima facie evidence of validity of taxes. Wales v. Warren, 66 Neb. 455, 92 N.W. 590 (1902).Legal presumption of validity of taxes and regularity of sale is raised by sale of land for delinquent taxes. Darr v. Berquist, 63 Neb. 713, 89 N.W. 256 (1902).Burden of showing irregularities is upon party asserting same. Darr v. Wisner, 63 Neb. 305, 88 N.W. 518 (1901).Tax certificate is sufficient to establish prima facie existence of a lien in some amount. Merrill v. Van Camp, 1 Neb. Unof. 462, 96 N.W. 344 (1901).2. LienProvisions by which taxes are declared to be a perpetual lien are for the exclusive benefit of the state and the different agencies thereof. Gibson v. Peterson, 118 Neb. 218, 224 N.W. 272 (1929); Alexander v. Shaffer, 38 Neb. 812, 57 N.W. 541 (1894).3. Effect of salePurchase, by one whose duty it was to pay taxes, operates as payment only. Gibson v. Sexson, 82 Neb. 475, 118 N.W. 77 (1908).Purchase of title by holder of certificate merges tax lien in legal title. Mead v. Brewer, 77 Neb. 400, 109 N.W. 399 (1906).Tax lien is ordinarily extinguished by payment, but exception to rule is where holder of sale certificate pays subsequent delinquent taxes. Toy v. McHugh, 62 Neb. 820, 87 N.W. 1059 (1901).Purchaser has lien for all legal taxes paid by him, with interest and costs. Medland v. Connell, 57 Neb. 10, 77 N.W. 437 (1898).Rule of caveat emptor applies to purchaser at tax sale for special assessment levied by metropolitan city. Though tax is invalid, city is not required to refund. Pennock v. Douglas County, 39 Neb. 293, 58 N.W. 117 (1894).4. SubrogationCertificate, barred upon void levy, gives no lien on property, but payment of subsequent valid taxes by holder in good faith, entitles him to subrogation to rights of public to lien. John v. Connell, 61 Neb. 267, 85 N.W. 82 (1901).Purchaser in good faith is entitled to subrogation to all rights of public to lien. Leavitt v. Bartholomew, 1 Neb. Unof. 756, 93 N.W. 856 (1901).5. MiscellaneousThis section does not require treasurer's official seal to be affixed to tax sale certificate. County of Lincoln v. Evans, 185 Neb. 19, 173 N.W.2d 365 (1969).Elected county officials are required to give individual official bonds. Blanket bond is not sufficient. Foote v. County of Adams, 163 Neb. 406, 80 N.W.2d 179 (1956).Purchaser of tax sale certificate may pay subsequent taxes, and the amount thus paid may be added to the amount due on the certificate and included in foreclosure. County of Madison v. Walz, 144 Neb. 677, 14 N.W.2d 319 (1944).Where sale was made at time required by law, a certificate dated three months afterwards was valid. Otoe County v. Brown, 16 Neb. 394, 20 N.W. 274 (1884).