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Statutes

Arkansas Property Tax Statutes

26-2-107. Disposition of property to avoid assessment.

If any person, for the purpose of avoiding listing for the payment of taxes on any property subject to taxation, shall sell, give away, or otherwise dispose of the property, under or subject to any agreement expressed or implied or any understanding with the purchaser, done, or recipient of the property that the property is to be reconveyed, restored, or redelivered to the person so disposing of the property, he or she shall be guilty of a violation and upon conviction be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

26-3-203. Mobile homes and manufactured homes.

(a) Mobile homes and manufactured homes shall be deemed real property for the purpose of ad valorem property taxation.

(b) Real property taxes and any interest, penalties, or other charges on a mobile home on a leased site in a mobile home park or any other leased site, and any assessment or user fee chargeable to the owner of the mobile home and constituting a lien, shall be assessed and levied against the owner of the mobile home whose name appears on the certificate or other acceptable evidence of ownership, and shall be a lien on the mobile home or manufactured home only.
(c)When the property tax on mobile homes and manufactured homes which are now assessed as real property become delinquent, the delinquent real property tax shall be attached to the personal property tax of the owner of the mobile home or manufactured home and the county collector shall not accept payment of the personal property taxes without collecting payment of the delinquent real property taxes at that time.

26-3-308. Property owned by the State Highway Commission or the State Highway and Transportation Department.

(a) It is hereby found and determined by the Seventy-Eighth General Assembly that all property owned by the Arkansas State Highway Commission or the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is public property used exclusively for public purposes.

(b) Since neither the commission nor the department pursuant to Arkansas Constitution, Article 16, 5, are required to pay real or personal property taxes on real estate and tangible personal property owned by that commission or department, likewise, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the commission and department shall not be required to pay any improvement district assessments that may be assessed against the commission or department as a result of such ownership.

26-18-201. Attempt To Evade or Defeat Tax.

Any taxpayer who willfully attempts to evade or defeat the payment of any tax, penalty, or interest due under any state tax law shall be guilty of a Class C felony. (b) Any person who willfully assists a taxpayer in evading or defeating the payment of any tax, penalty, or interest due under any state tax law shall be guilty of a Class C felony.

26-23-202. Fair Taxation.

(a) It is the intent of this act that the following objectives shall apply to the operation of the property tax system for Arkansas taxpayers:

(1) To be taxed fairly and assessed equitably throughout the state;

(2) To have access to information concerning how the system of property taxation works and how their tax dollars are spent;

(3) To participate in the determination of tax rates or millage rates levied in local taxing units;

(4) To receive fair and courteous treatment throughout the property tax system;

(5) To review the reassessments and methodology used in determining the value of their properties and that of comparable properties;

(6) To receive a prompt response by government officials to inquiries regarding the value of their properties;

(7) To require government officials or others responsible for the valuation of property to review and correct any measurement error to the nearest foot, clerical error, or other technical error which occurred in the valuation of their properties;

(8) To be sent a notice setting forth the following: (A) The amount of any change in the value of their properties; (B) The right of the taxpayer to appeal such a change; and (C) The procedures which must be followed on appeal, including the name, title, address, and telephone number of the secretary of the county equalization board to whom the appeal and any supporting documentation should be directed, the deadline for requesting a hearing, and the proof required for adjustment of value;

(9) To complete all steps in the appeal process before paying any disputed taxes;

(10) To receive written notification of the outcome of any appeal; and

(11) To recover any overpayment of taxes resulting from erroneous assessments within three (3) years after payment.

(b) The rights enumerated in subsection (a) of this section shall be prominently displayed in each county assessor's and county collector's office in Arkansas.

(c) (1) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section are goals and objectives only and no person or entity shall have a civil cause of action for any alleged breach or violation of any of these goals and objectives. (2) However, subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall not be interpreted or construed to limit the rights of any taxpayer under any other law of this state.

26-26-1105. Report of manufactured home and mobile home purchases.

(a) A purchaser of a manufactured home or mobile home shall report the purchase of each new or used manufactured home or mobile home to the county assessor of the appropriate county where the manufactured home or mobile home will be located.
(b) The report shall include:
(1) The name of the purchaser;
(2) The purchaser's address;
(3) The date on which the purchase was made; and
(4) Other information as may be deemed necessary by the county assessor.

26-26-1118. Homestead Credit.

If the property qualifies for the credit at any time during the assessment year, it is deemed to be qualified for the entire year regardless of a change in or use;

Prior to issuing tax bills the assessor shall identify those parcels used as homesteads in the county and the bill shall reflect the reduction;

The property owner shall register proof of eligibility with the county assessor or attach it to the deed before filing. The property must qualify for the credit before January 1 of the year following the assessment, but the taxpayer shall have until October 15 of the year following the assessment to make his or her claim for the credit; If the property qualifies for the credit it is immaterial who or what entity pays the tax; If the property is transferred, the purchaser of the property shall notify the assessor of the new use of the property;

26-28-106. Charging uncollected taxes.

When, for any cause, the taxes in any county, for any year, shall not be collected, they shall be charged on the tax books for the next year and collected by the same officers and in the same manner as the taxes of that year.

26-34-102. Ownership error in assessment.

It shall not be necessary to the validity of an assessment or of a sale of land for taxes that it be assessed to its true owner. Rather, the taxes shall be a charge upon the real and personal property taxed and, when sold, shall vest the title in the purchaser without regard to who owned the land or other property when assessed or when sold.

26-34-103. Liability of executor or administrator.

The personal property of any deceased person shall be liable in the hands of any executor or administrator for any tax due on the same by any testator or intestate.

26-34-107. No proceedings after payment except for fraud.

After the assessment and full payment of any property, privilege, or excise tax, no proceedings shall be brought or maintained for the reassessment of the value on which the tax is based, except for actual fraud of the taxpayer. Failure to assess taxes as required by law shall be prima facie evidence of fraud.

26-35-101. Escrow funds for payment of real property taxes.

(a)(1) All banks, savings and loan associations, and other financial institutions and all persons, firms, or corporations which are holders of escrow funds for payment of real property taxes, within thirty (30) days after sufficient funds have accumulated in each account for the payment of property taxes, shall notify the county collector.

(2) If sufficient funds for the payment of one (1) year's taxes on real estate have accumulated within an escrow account prior to the commencement of the period in which the county collector may collect real property taxes for the year in which due, this notification shall be made within thirty (30) days after the county collector is authorized by law to commence collecting real property taxes during the year.
(3)Further, those holders of escrow funds must remit payment for property taxes within sixty (60) days of receipt of the tax bills from the county collector.
(4)(A) Any bank, savings and loan association, or other financial institution or any person, firm, or corporation holding escrow funds for the payment of real property taxes due on properties belonging to persons for whom the escrow accounts are being held, which fails to pay to the county collector the real property taxes on the property within the time limitation imposed by this subsection, shall be subject to a penalty of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the total taxes due.
(B) The penalties shall be paid from funds belonging to the holder of the escrow account.
(b) In no event shall moneys paid as penalties for late payment of real property taxes under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section be charged against the escrow account.
(c) All penalties collected by the county collector under subsection (a) of this section shall be credited to the various taxing units of the county in the respective proportions that each taxing unit shares in real property taxes collected by the county.

26-35-301. Every person shall be liable to pay tax.

"Every person shall be liable to pay tax for the lands, town, or city lots of which he may stand seized for life, by curtesy, or in dower, or may have the care of as guardian, executor, or administrator, or as agent or attorney, having the funds of the principal in his hands. It shall be the duty of each person holding lands as indicated to pay the taxes which may be assessed thereon each year."

26-35-301 AG Opinion No 1994-022: Collectors are not authorized to forgive the amount due from a taxpayer. All taxes assessed become a lien upon the property assessed and do not extinguish at the time of death of the taxpayer. Ark. Code 26-35-401, the personal property of the deceased is a liable in the hands of the administrator or executor. Lands conveyed to heirs or devisees are encumbered with the lien for the delinquent real estate taxes.

26-35-401. Liability generally.

(a) Every person holding lands as guardian, executor, or administrator and neglecting or refusing to list or pay the taxes upon them, in the manner indicated, shall be liable to an action by his or her ward or devisee for any damage sustained by his or her neglect. (b) Every person having the care of lands as agent or attorney as indicated having funds of the principal in his or her hands, for such purpose, and neglecting or refusing to list or pay the taxes on the lands shall be liable in an action to his or her ...

26-35-601. Personal property taxes to be collected with real estate taxes.

Each collector shall be charged with collecting personal property taxes shown to be due by the taxpayer as reflected by the records in the county collector’s office at the time the taxpayer pays the general taxes due on real estate. (b) Any county collector willfully accepting payment of general real estate taxes without requiring the payment of personal property taxes due as on the records shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined in a s sum not less than ($25) nor more than ($100).

(c) (1) It is the intention of this section to require the collection of personal property taxes and prevent a tax payer from paying real estate taxes without payment of personal property taxes. (2)

26-35-705. Mailing tax statements.

(3) In the event the taxpayer’s information changes and the electronic attempt to notify is returned undelivered, it shall be the taxpayer’s obligation to furnish the correct info or the tax statements will be sent to the mailing address of the taxpayer.

(c) In the event that the mailing address or electronic address info of the taxpayer changes, the taxpayer has an obligation to furnish the correct mailing address or electronic info.

26-35-802. Payment not required pending assessment appeal.

No tract or lot of real property shall be returned as delinquent for nonpayment of taxes nor shall any penalty be added to taxes due while there is pending in the circuit court or the Supreme Court an appeal from an order of the county court fixing the assessed value of property. In the event there has been no final disposition of an appeal prior to the last day fixed by law for the payment of the taxes without penalty, the owner shall have thirty (30) days after final disposition of the appeal within which to pay taxes without penalty.

26-36-201. Dates taxes due and payable.

(a) (1) All taxes levied on real estate and personal property for the county courts of this state, when assembled for the purpose of levying taxes, are due and payable at the county collector's office between the first business day of March and October 15 inclusive. (2) All taxes unpaid after October 15 are delinquent.

(b) (1) The county collector shall extend a penalty of ten percent (10%) against all delinquent taxpayers that have not paid their taxes within the time limit specified. (2) The county collector shall collect the penalty provided in subdivision (b)(1) of this section.

(c) The county collector shall extend an additional penalty of ten percent (10%) upon all delinquent taxpayers if the taxpayers' delinquent personal property taxes are not satisfied or paid in full by October 15 following the purchase of a business or the assets, goods, chattels, inventory, or equipment of a business not in the ordinary course of business.

(d) A penalty shall not be assessed against a taxpayer who is a member of the United States armed forces, reserve component of the armed forces, or the National Guard during the taxpayer's deployment plus one (1) tax year after the deployment ends.

(e) When October 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday observed by the United States Postal Service, the taxes shall become due and payable the following business day that is not a holiday observed by the United States Postal Service.

Arkansas Code specifically lists the time frame for which the tax books will be open for the payment of taxes that have been levied for collection that year - "payable between the first business day in March and October 15 inclusive in the year succeeding the year in which the levy is made." [A.C.A. 26-35-501] The same dates apply for delinquent as set forth in A.C.A. 26-36-201.

There is no provision for prepaying property taxes in Arkansas. Some states actually have laws that establish a system for the prepayment of taxes. Arkansas does not.

26-36-202. Payment of delinquent taxes.

(a) No taxes returned delinquent shall be paid into the State Treasury except by the county collector.

(b) It shall be the duty of the county collector to add a penalty of ten percent (10%) upon all taxes returned delinquent, which shall be collected in the manner provided for the collection of delinquent taxes.

26-36-203. Publication of delinquent personal property tax list.

(a) (1) (A) No later than December 1 in each year, the county collector shall prepare a list of delinquent personal property taxes and deliver a copy of the list to a legal newspaper of the county. (B) (i) Within seven (7) days thereafter, the newspaper shall publish the list. (ii) The newspaper shall publish the list in at least seven-point type. (C) If the newspaper regularly publishes a total market coverage edition or supplement publication that has wider circulation within the county or district, the newspaper may publish the list in that edition or publication. (2) If there is no newspaper in the county or district, the publication shall be in the nearest newspaper having a general circulation in the county or district for which the list is being published.

(b) The publication shall show, besides the name of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's school district and the total amount of taxes delinquent, including penalties. The publication shall be in substance as follows:

(c) (1) The newspaper publishing this list shall receive as publication cost the sum of one dollar and twenty-five cents ($1.25) per name, per insertion, which sum, together with fifty cents (50cent(s)) per name for the county collector preparing and furnishing the list, shall be charged to the delinquent taxpayer and shall be paid by the county collector from any moneys in the county collector's possession derived from payment of personal property taxes. (2) The receipt for the payment, verified by the certificate of the county clerk as to its correctness, shall entitle the county collector to a credit for the amount so paid.

(d) This section shall be cumulative to all existing laws relative to the collection of personal property taxes.

26-36-205. List of delinquent officers.

The county collectors shall make a delinquent list of all delinquent clerks and other officers required to pay to the county collectors the amount of revenue received by them, to be called a "list of delinquent officers."

26-36-206. Distraint of goods to pay delinquent personal property taxes.

(a) (1) At any time after October 15, the county collector shall distrain sufficient goods and chattels belonging to a person who owes taxes upon the person's personal property to pay the taxes due upon the personal property and a penalty of twenty-five percent (25%) on the taxes due. (2) If the county collector distrains goods and chattels under subdivision (a)(1) of this section, the county collector shall immediately proceed to advertise the sale of the goods and chattels in three (3) public places in the county, stating the time when and the place where the goods and chattels will be sold. (3) The county collector shall collect taxes and penalties under this subsection and deposit the taxes and penalties under this subsection into the county school fund.

(b) (1) If the taxes for which property is distrained, and costs which shall accrue thereon are not paid before the day appointed for sale, which shall not be less than ten (10) days after taking the property, the county collector shall proceed to sell the same at public vendue, or so much thereof as will be sufficient to pay the taxes and the costs of the distress and sale. (2) The county collector shall not distrain any goods and chattels for taxes levied on real property, except as provided in § 26-3-204.

(c) (1) The county collector is authorized and empowered to levy on and sell the goods and chattels of the person liable for taxes provided, in the same manner and under the same restrictions as goods and chattels are required to be levied and sold under execution on judgment at law, when not inconsistent with the provisions of this subchapter. (2) No goods and chattels of any person shall be exempt from levy and sale.

(d) The county collector is allowed the same fees for making distress and sale of goods and chattels for the payment of taxes which are allowed by law to the county sheriff for making levy and sale of property on execution under § 21-6-307 for each delinquent taxpayer.

(e) (1) If a taxpayer operating a business in a county is delinquent in the payment of personal property taxes for personal property owned by or used in the business, then following the certification and publication of delinquency under § 26-36-203, the county collector may distrain goods or chattels of the taxpayer owned by or used in the business under subsection (a) of this section by publication of a Notice of Distraint and Tax Sale in three (3) public places in the county or in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. (2) The Notice of Distraint and Tax Sale shall contain: (A) The location, date, and time of the sale; (B) The name of the taxpayer and business under which the goods or chattels to be sold is assessed; (C) The principal sum of personal property taxes owed with a certification of the principal sum by the county collector; (D) The following specific information:

"The goods or chattels of the taxpayer listed above located within ___________ County, Arkansas, is under distraint and shall be sold to satisfy the delinquency in the payment of personal property taxes under Arkansas Code § 26-36-206. Under Arkansas Code § 26-34-101, the taxes assessed on real and personal property shall constitute a lien entitled to preference over all other judgments, executions, or encumbrances, or liens whensoever created. Under Arkansas Code § 4-1-201, a buyer in ordinary course of business does not include a person that acquires goods in a transfer in bulk or as security for or in total or partial satisfaction of a money debt."; and

(E) A statement that it is a Class B misdemeanor to remove, destroy, or deface the Notice of Distraint and Tax Sale or to interfere or obstruct the sale of or the access to the goods or chattels on the date of the sale by the county collector, the county sheriff, or their deputies. (3) The county collector shall provide a copy of the Notice of Distraint and Tax Sale to the taxpayer by regular mail or by posting a copy at the physical location where the goods or chattels are held. (4) The Notice of Distraint and Tax Sale shall be posted conspicuously at the location of the sale. (5) In lieu of physically securing the goods or chattels or storing or transporting the goods or chattels to another location for sale, the sale may be held at any place of business, warehouse, storeroom, or facility owned or under the possession of the taxpayer, including without limitation the current location of the goods or chattels to be sold. (6) It is a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly remove, destroy, or deface a Notice of Distraint and Tax Sale posted under this section or to knowingly interfere or obstruct the sale or access of the county collector, the county sheriff, or their deputies to the goods or chattels on the date of the sale.

26-36-207. Garnishment proceedings authorized.

(a) (1) If the tax upon personal property, moneys, credits, investments in bonds, stocks, joint-stock companies, or otherwise of a person, association, or corporation remains unpaid after October 15 in any year and the county collector is unable to find any personal property of the person, association, or corporation on which to levy to make the taxes due, then the county collector shall present the account for taxes to any person who may be indebted to the person, association, or corporation, and demand the payment of the taxes. (2) The person to whom the account for taxes is presented shall pay over to the county collector the amount of the taxes that the person owes up to the amount of the debt and take the county collector's receipt for the payment. The receipt shall be taken in all courts of this state as payment on the taxpayer's indebtedness to the full amount expressed on the county collector's receipt.

(b) If the person should fail or refuse, on demand, to pay over the amount of the tax that he or she owes to the county collector, the county collector shall file a statement of the amount of the tax with the person so refusing, which shall operate as a garnishment upon the person so served. The county collector shall proceed to collect the taxes in the manner fixed by law in cases of garnishment.

(c) No person shall be compelled to pay any debt before it may be due nor a greater amount than he or she may be owing the person, corporation, or association.

(d) The cost of garnishment shall be paid by the party refusing to pay the taxes when so requested.

26-36-208. Delinquent taxpayer relocating to another county.

(a) Each county collector in making returns of the delinquent lists of personal property to the county clerk shall note on the margin of the returns the county in this state to which any delinquent taxpayer may have removed or resides in, with the date of his or her removal, if the county collector is able to ascertain that fact.

(b) The county clerk shall immediately forward to the county clerk of any county of this state, which any delinquent taxpayer has removed to or resides within, a certified statement or account of the taxes so assessed and not paid. The certified statement shall specify the value of the property on which the taxes were levied and the amount of the taxes levied thereon, with the penalty and cost. The county collector shall proceed to collect the delinquent taxes in the same manner, and with like authority, as prescribed in this subchapter for collecting delinquent taxes upon personal property and shall make return thereof to the county collector of the proper county.

26-36-209. Time and manner -- returns.

(a) The county collector may collect, at any time, all delinquent personal property tax in his or her county, or any that may be sent from another county, by the sale of property or otherwise, and the county collector shall make returns of the amount so collected to the proper counties and officers.

(b) (1) The county collector shall pay over to the county treasurer on the first day of each month or within ten (10) days after the first day of each month all amounts collected for his or her county under this section. (2) However, upon a certificate of distribution of the amounts collected under this section being prepared by the county clerk, county collector, or other county officer designated pursuant to § 26-28-102(a), which certificate shall be issued on or before the thirtieth day of each month, the county treasurer shall transfer to the various funds the amount due each fund.

(c) (1) All costs associated with such delinquent personal property taxes shall be prorated to the original taxing entities. (2) All penalties shall be deposited as county revenues in the county general fund.

(d) For purposes of this section, the costs and penalties associated with delinquent personal property taxes shall not be considered a portion of the county collector's revenue in calculating excess commissions.

26-37-101. Transfer of tax-delinquent lands.

(a) (1) (A) All lands upon which the taxes have not been paid for one (1) year following the date the taxes were due, October 15, shall be forfeited to the state and transmitted by certification to the Commissioner of State Lands for collection or sale. (B) The Commissioner of State Lands may accept an electronic certification of tax delinquent parcels from a county. (2) Tax-delinquent lands shall not be sold at the county level.

(b) The county collector shall hold all tax-delinquent lands in the county for one (1) year after the date of delinquency, and, if the lands are not redeemed by the certification date, which shall be no later than July 1 of the following year, the county collector shall transmit it to the state by certification, after notice as provided in this chapter, indicating all taxes, penalties, interest, and costs due and the name and last known address of the owner of record of the tax-delinquent lands.

(c) Upon receipt of the certification, title to the tax-delinquent lands shall vest in the State of Arkansas in care of the Commissioner of State Lands.

26-37-102. Publication of notice -- Fee.

(a) The county collector in each county shall, not less than thirty (30) days nor more than forty (40) days prior to the certification of the land, cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county: (1) A list of real property not previously redeemed; (2) The names of the owners of record; (3) The amount of the taxes, penalties, interest, and cost necessary to be paid to redeem the property; (4) The date upon which such period of redemption expires; and (5) Notice that unless the property is redeemed prior to the expiration of the period of redemption, the lands will be forfeited to the state.

(b) Fees for the publication shall be the same as set forth in § 26-37-108 [repealed].

26-37-103. Verification by county assessor.

(a) Prior to certification to the Commissioner of State Lands, the county assessor shall: (1) Verify the assessment to establish value on all parcels to be certified; (2) Verify the name and last known address of the owner of record of the tax-delinquent land; and (3) Determine whether the tax-delinquent land exists.

(b) If the land is found to be nonexistent, the county assessor shall remove the delinquent entry from the assessment rolls.

(c) No tax-delinquent lands shall be certified to the Commissioner of State Lands without the county assessor's verification.

26-37-104. Costs of notices.

(a) All costs of notice shall be added to the costs to be collected from the purchaser or redeemer.

(b) Costs of notice shall include, but not be limited to, certified mail costs, newspaper and catalog costs, and title work.

26-37-105. Collection fee.

The Commissioner of State Lands shall charge a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) collection fee for each deed issued by the Commissioner of State Lands, whether the land is redeemed or sold.

26-37-106. Recording of delinquent list.

(a) (1) The county collectors of this state shall cause a list of the delinquent lands in their respective counties, as corrected by the county collectors, to be entered in a permanent record appropriately labeled. (2) The list shall be a permanent public record and open to the inspection of the public at all times.

(b) The county officer designated by the quorum court under § 26-28-102 shall certify that the total amount of tax-delinquent lands in the permanent record under subsection (a) of this section is equal to the credit allowed the county collector for tax-delinquent lands on the current tax settlement.

(c) The record, so certified, shall be evidence of the facts contained in the list and certificate.

26-37-107. Publication of delinquent list.

(a) (1) (A) The county collectors of this state shall cause the list of the delinquent lands in their respective counties to be prepared and a copy of the list to be delivered to a legal newspaper of the county by no later than December 1 of each year. (B) (i) Within seven (7) days thereafter, the newspaper shall publish the list. (ii) The newspaper shall publish the list in at least seven-point type. (C) If the newspaper regularly publishes a total market coverage edition or supplement publication that has wider circulation within the county or district, the newspaper may publish the list in that edition or publication. (2) If there is no newspaper in the county or district, the publication shall be in the nearest newspaper having a general circulation in the county or district for which the list is being published. (3) The list of delinquent lands shall contain at least the name of the owner and the legal description of the property as was recorded on the tax book.

(b) The publication shall be in substance as follows:

(c) (1) The legal fee for each required publication of delinquent real property tax lists shall be one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per tract per insertion. (2) The fee shall be added as costs of forfeiture and shall be paid by the county collector from any moneys in the county collector's possession derived from the payment of real property taxes. (3) The receipts for the payment, verified by the certificate of the county clerk as to its correctness, shall entitle the county collector to a credit for the amount so paid.

(d) The requirements of this section do not apply to delinquent taxes on mineral interests, which shall comply with the requirements stated in § 26-36-213.

26-37-109. Redemption of tax-delinquent lands not transferred.

(a) (1) A county collector may charge a fee of two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) for the issuance of each certificate of land redemption for each parcel of tax-delinquent land redeemed in the county collector's office. (2) The fee under this subsection shall be deposited into the county general fund.

(b) The county collector shall accept payment for the redemption of tax-delinquent land that has not been transferred to the Commissioner of State Lands.

(c) The county collector shall pay over to the county treasurer on the first of each month or within ten (10) days thereafter all amounts collected under this section. However, upon a certificate of distribution of the amounts collected under this section being prepared by the county clerk or county collector, which certificate of distribution shall be issued on or before the thirtieth day of each month, the county treasurer shall transfer to the various funds the amount due each fund, such as the county, school, or municipality fund, from the amounts collected under this section.

26-37-110. No duty to maintain premises.

With respect to tax-delinquent real property certified to the state, the Commissioner of State Lands: (1) Has no duty to preserve or maintain the premises; (2) Is not liable for any costs incurred to correct, remove, or abate a condition concerning the tax-delinquent real property; and (3) Is immune from liability for any claim for damages, costs, fees, or other relief or remedy based upon the condition of the tax-delinquent real property.

26-39-201. Time for payment.

(a) (1) A county clerk, probate clerk, circuit clerk, county sheriff, county collector, or any other county official shall pay over to the county treasurer on the first of each month, or within ten (10) working days thereafter, all funds in his or her possession belonging to the county or its subdivisions that are by law required to be paid into the county treasury, whether taxes, fines, or any moneys that are collected for any purpose by law and belonging to the county. (2) Inmate commissary trust account balances belonging to the inmate and held by the county sheriff are not deemed county funds and are not subject to this section.

(b) (1) This section does not mean that the county collector shall make a distribution of taxes to all funds but that he or she shall settle with the county treasurer in a lump sum, and the county treasurer shall credit it to the county collector's unapportioned account. (2) Upon the issuance of a certificate of the county clerk or other county officer designated pursuant to § 26-28-102(a) that is issued on or before the thirtieth day of each month, the county treasurer shall transfer to the various funds ninety percent (90%) of the advance payments made by the county collector during the collecting period and, upon final settlement, the proper adjustments shall be made with the various accounts, and the balance remaining in the unapportioned account shall be distributed upon order of the county court approving the final settlement of the county collector.

26-39-204. County collector to pay in kind.

(a) The county collector shall pay into the State Treasury and the county treasury, in kind, all money collected by him or her, whether specie, United States paper currency, national bank notes, silver or gold certificates, or warrants or scrip, or check drawn on the county collector's account, as authorized by law to be received.

(b) Every county collector or other officer who shall fail to comply with the provisions of this section shall: (1) Be fined one hundred dollars ($100) for each violation; (2) Be held liable on his or her official bond for the difference in value between the funds received and those paid; and (3) Not be eligible to hold any office of trust in this state.

26-39-206. Settlement for other moneys received.

(a) In like manner and time as provided in § 26-39-205 [repealed], the county sheriff or county collector shall be required to settle his or her accounts of all moneys received by him or her on account of taxes, fines, penalties, and judgments. They shall be entered of record, so as to show: (1) What is due the state and county, respectively; (2) From what officer received; (3) From what branch of revenue; and (4) The particular fund, if any, to which it belongs.

(b) If any county collector shall fail to make settlement with the county court at the time required, he or she shall be attached until he or she makes a settlement. Immediately after settlement with the county court, the county clerk shall certify to the Auditor of State the amount due the state. The county collector shall, within fifteen (15) days, pay the sums into the State Treasury and, in ten (10) days, pay over to the county treasurer all sums due the county.

26-39-213. Failure to pay amount due.

Every officer who shall fail to pay the amount due from him or her on settlement and who shall be returned by the county collector or county treasurer to the county court as a delinquent, so that the county collector or county treasurer shall be credited in their accounts with the amount of the delinquency, shall forfeit five percent (5%) per month on the amount due from the time it ought to have been paid, until collected, which may be collected by suit on his or her official bond.

26-39-401. Final Settlement.

Any county clerk or other county officer designated pursuant to § 26-28-102(a) who fails to set up the settlement of the county collector setting forth the amount due the various funds on or before the fourth Monday of December of each year upon conviction is guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) or removal from office.

26-39-402. Review by county court.

(a) All county collectors' settlements shall be made and filed with the county courts on or before the fourth Monday of December each year.

(b) (1) It is the duty of the county courts to pass upon the settlements of the county collectors and to approve, reject, or restate them on or before December 31 of each year. (2) Failure of the county judge to so approve, reject, or restate the settlements of the county collector within this period of time shall constitute a misfeasance in office and shall be a violation punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) or removal from office.

26-39-403. Approval or rejection.

(a) If the tax settlement shall be found to be correct, the county court shall order the tax settlement spread in full upon the records of the county court.

(b) (1) The county clerk or other county officer designated pursuant to § 26-28-102(a) shall certify to the Auditor of State, without delay, the action of the county court on the tax settlement, whether approved or rejected. (2) If rejected, the county clerk or other county officer designated pursuant to § 26-28-102(a) shall immediately proceed to restate the tax settlement and again submit it to the county court.

26-39-404. Settlement with county and county subdivisions.

After the tax settlement made with the county collector by the county clerk or other county officer designated pursuant to § 26-28-102(a) has been examined and acted upon by the county court, as provided in § 26-39-402, the county collector shall make settlement with the county and its various subdivisions on or before December 30 of each year.

26-39-406. Distribution to funds.

All taxes collected and arising under any law of this state shall be distributed by the Auditor of State if in possession of state authority or if in possession of county authority by the county clerk or other county officer designated pursuant to § 26-28-102(a) to the several funds to which the taxes belong.

26-35-301. Duty to pay taxes.

(a) Every person shall be liable to pay tax for the lands, town, or city lots of which he or she may stand seized for life, by curtesy, or in dower, or may have the care of as guardian, executor, or administrator, or as agent or attorney, having the funds of the principal in his or her hands.

(b) It shall be the duty of each person holding lands as indicated to pay the taxes which may be assessed thereon each year.

26-35-303. Joint tenant ownership of property.

(a) In all cases where any tract of land may be owned by two (2) or more persons as joint tenants, coparceners, or tenants in common, and one (1) or more proprietors shall have paid the tax or tax and penalty charged on his or her proportion of the tract, or one (1) or more of the remaining proprietors shall have failed to pay his or her proportion of his or her tax or tax and penalty charged on the land and partition of the land has or shall be made between them, then the tax or tax and penalty, paid as indicated, shall be deemed to have been paid on the proportion of the tract set off to the proprietor who paid his or her proportion of the tax or tax and penalty, and the proprietor so paying the tax or tax and penalty, as indicated, shall hold the proportion of the tract set off to him or her, as indicated, free from the residue of the tax or tax and penalty charged on the tract before partition, and the proportion of the tract set off to the proprietor who shall not have paid his or her proportion of the tax or tax and penalty, remaining unpaid, shall be charged with the tax or tax and penalty in the same manner as if the partition had been made before the tax or tax and penalty, had been assessed.

(b) Whenever any land so held by tenants in common shall be sold upon proceedings in partition or shall be taken by the election of any of the parties to such proceedings, or when any real estate shall be sold at judicial sale, or any administrator's, executor's, guardian's, or trustee's sale, the court shall order the taxes and penalties and the interest thereon, against the lands to be discharged out of the proceeds of the sale or election.

26-35-401. Liability generally.

(a) Every person holding lands as guardian, executor, or administrator and neglecting or refusing to list or pay the taxes upon them, in the manner indicated, shall be liable to an action by his or her ward or devisee for any damage sustained by his or her neglect.

(b) Every person having the care of lands as agent or attorney as indicated having funds of the principal in his or her hands, for such purpose, and neglecting or refusing to list or pay the taxes on the lands shall be liable in an action to his or her principal for any damage the principal may have sustained by his or her neglect or refusal.

26-35-402. Preference of reimbursement claims.

Every attorney, agent, guardian, executor, or administrator seized or having the care of lands, as indicated, who shall be put to any trouble or expense in listing or paying the taxes on the lands, shall be allowed a reasonable compensation for the time spent, the expenses incurred, and money advanced as indicated, which shall be deemed in all courts a just charge against the person for whose benefit the services shall have been advanced. The claim shall be preferred to all other debts or claims and be a lien on the real estate as well as the personal estate of the person for whose benefit the services shall have been advanced.

26-35-501. Time to pay -- Installments.

(a) (1) All ad valorem taxes levied on real and personal property by the several county courts of the state when assembled for the purpose of levying taxes, except taxes on the property of utilities and carriers and all ad valorem taxes on real property held in escrow, are due and payable between the first business day in March and October 15 inclusive in the year succeeding the year in which the levy is made. (2) (A) Except as provided in § 26-35-601, every taxpayer other than a utility or carrier has the option to pay the current taxes on real property and personal property of the taxpayer in installments as follows: (i) The first installment of one-fourth (1/4) of the amount of the taxes is payable between the first business day in March and the third Monday in April inclusive; (ii) A second installment of one-fourth (1/4) or a first installment of one-half (1/2) if no payment was made before the third Monday in April is payable between the third Monday in April and the third Monday in July inclusive; and (iii) The third installment of one-half (1/2) is payable between the third Monday in July and October 15 inclusive. (B) (i) A county collector may authorize the county's taxpayers other than a utility or carrier to pay current real property taxes and personal property taxes in installments in any amount between the first business day in March and October 15 inclusive. (ii) Except as provided in § 26-35-601, a county collector shall not accept payment of delinquent real property taxes from a taxpayer unless the delinquent personal property taxes of the taxpayer are paid in full.

(b) All ad valorem taxes levied on the real and personal property of utilities and carriers are due and payable as follows: (1) One-fourth (1/4) between the first business day in March and the third Monday in April inclusive; (2) One-fourth (1/4) between the third Monday in April and the second Monday in June inclusive; and (3) One-half (1/2) between the second Monday in June and October 15 inclusive in the year succeeding the year in which the levy is made.

(c) (1) A county collector shall assess a penalty of ten percent (10%) against all unpaid tax balances remaining after October 15 for every taxpayer other than a utility or carrier or after the prescribed dates listed in subsection (b) of this section for utilities and carriers. (2) (A) A taxpayer paying in installments under subdivision (a)(2) of this section shall not be assessed a penalty until the taxes become due and remain unpaid after October 15. (B) However, if the last day for the payment of taxes on any installment is a Saturday, Sunday, or postal holiday, the last day to pay taxes without a penalty is the following business day. (3) (A) A property tax balance payment is timely received under this subsection if mailed through the United States Postal Service and postmarked by October 15. (B) If October 15 is a Saturday, Sunday, or postal holiday, a property tax balance payment is timely received if mailed and postmarked through the United States Postal Service the following business day.

26-35-502. Means of payment.

The county taxes of any county of this state levied in pursuance of law shall only be payable in the lawful currency of the United States or scrip or warrants of the county by whose authority they were issued, drawn in pursuance of law and not inconsistent with this section and §§ 14-20-103, 14-20-104, and 14-20-114.

26-35-506. Credit cards.

(a) All county collectors may accept payment of county property taxes, penalties, and associated costs by an approved credit card or debit card.

(b) (1) As authorized by subsection (a) of this section, all county collectors may enter into contracts with credit card companies and may pay the fees normally charged by those companies for allowing the county collector to accept their cards as payment. (2) (A) When a taxpayer pays his or her property taxes by an approved credit card, the county collector shall assess a service fee equal to the amount charged to the county collector by the credit card issuer. (B) This charge may be added to and become part of any underlying obligation.

26-35-601. Personal property taxes to be collected with real estate taxes.

(a) Each county collector in this state shall be charged with the responsibility of collecting personal property taxes shown to be due by the taxpayer as reflected by the records in the county collector's office at the time the taxpayer pays the general taxes due on real estate.

(b) Any county collector willfully accepting payment of general real estate taxes without requiring the payment of personal property taxes due as reflected by the records in the county collector's office shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined in a sum not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).

(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (c)(2)-(4) of this section, it is the intention of this section to require the collection of personal property taxes as reflected by the records in the office of the county collector and to prevent a taxpayer from paying and the county collector from receiving payment of general real estate taxes without payment of personal property taxes if any personal property taxes are shown to be due. (2) The provisions of this section shall not prevent any person, firm, partnership, or corporation from paying general real estate taxes on property securing the payment of indebtedness due the person, firm, partnership, or corporation seeking to pay the taxes. (3) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a county collector shall accept payment of general real estate taxes on a parcel of property at the time the ownership of the property is being transferred if the taxpayer transferring title to the property has paid all delinquent personal property taxes. (4) Furthermore, a purchaser in a foreclosure sale shall not be responsible for the payment of the personal property taxes required to be paid by this section.

26-35-602. Tax money to be kept in separate account.

(a) (1) The Director of the Division of Local Affairs and Audits of the Division of Legislative Audit shall require every county collector of taxes to keep any and all tax money collected in a separate account from all other money which the county collector may have in his or her possession. (2) A county collector shall have no authority to check on this account except in favor of a treasurer or depository to whom he or she is required to pay the money or to himself or herself for commission or salary already earned.

(b) (1) (A) Failure to comply with this section on the part of a county collector shall be a violation and shall render him or her liable to a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00). (B) Each day's failure shall be considered a separate offense. (2) Upon finding that public funds and private funds are being jointly deposited or improperly disbursed under this section, the director shall notify immediately the bondsmen of the offending officer and the public of the violation.

26-35-605. Extension of time.

(a) The Governor may, by proclamation, extend the time when the penalty shall attach for making distraint, returning delinquent list, advertising and selling delinquent lands, making settlement and paying over the revenue, and for the performance of any other duty by the county collectors so that the taxpayer may have the same time to pay the taxes and the county collector have the same time to perform the duties of his or her office as allowed by law in case the failure or vacancy had not occurred.

(b) The Governor shall, in his or her proclamation, fix the time for the performance of the acts mentioned in this section. A copy shall be filed in the office of the county clerk and recorded in the records of the county court by the county clerk.

(c) The proclamation shall be published in some newspaper in the county for two (2) weeks if a newspaper is published therein.

(d) All acts and duties performed in the time fixed in the proclamation shall be as valid and binding as if performed in the time fixed by the general law.

26-35-606. Collection of real and personal property taxes.

(a) Any county collector may contract with one (1) or more financial institutions to act as his or her agents to receive real and personal property tax payments on his or her behalf.

(b) Tax payments received under a contract as provided for in this section shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as all other property tax payments, and no payments shall be collected after the last payment day established by law.

(c) A financial institution receiving tax payments under a contract as provided for in this section, shall, on the first working day of each week, transmit to the county collector all property taxes received during the preceding week.

(d) As used in this section, "financial institution" means any organization or enterprise which receives deposits and forwards checks, drafts, or orders for collection and which is subject to state or federal regulation.

(e) Nothing in this section shall permit a county collector to make any payment to a financial institution for receiving real and personal property taxes as provided in this section.

26-35-705. Mailing tax statements.

(a) No later than July 1 of each year, the county sheriff or county collector shall be required to mail statements of taxes due by a taxpayer to the address provided by the taxpayer.

(b) (1) No later than July 1 of each year, the county sheriff or collector may in his or her discretion establish an electronic registry allowing each taxpayer to voluntarily register the taxpayer's personal information authorizing statements of taxes due by the taxpayer to be sent electronically using the information provided by the taxpayer. (2) The county sheriff or county collector in his or her discretion may provide electronically to the taxpayer subsequent statements or notices for property taxes due or delinquent by using the information provided by the taxpayer. (3) In the event the taxpayer's information changes and the electronic attempt to notify is returned undelivered, it shall be the taxpayer's obligation to furnish the correct information or the tax statements will be sent to the mailing address of the taxpayer.

(c) In the event that the mailing address or electronic address information of the taxpayer changes, the taxpayer has an obligation to furnish the correct mailing address or electronic address information.

26-35-706. Postage fee -- Disposition.

(a) Every county collector who mails tax statements may charge the taxpayers a postage fee not to exceed the cost of first-class postage to defray the expense of processing and mailing tax statements.

(b) The postage fee shall be noted on each tax statement and shall be paid at the same time or before the tax is paid.

(c) The taxpayer's receipt shall include the amount of postage fee paid.

(d) (1) Postage fees received shall be accounted for on the county collector's final settlement. (2) The county collector may use the fees to purchase postage, and any amount of fees collected in any month which are not used for the purchase of postage that month shall be deposited into the county general fund.

(e) Due to the substantial savings in postage, paper, handling, and labor cost from delivery of statements and notices electronically using information provided by the taxpayer, the county sheriff or county collector sending the tax statement and notices may waive the costs for mail delivery from taxpayer property tax statements or may charge the reduced costs of electronic notification.

26-35-802. Payment not required pending assessment appeal.

(a) Real or personal property shall not be returned as delinquent for nonpayment of taxes, nor shall any penalty be added to taxes due while there is pending in the circuit court, Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Court an appeal from an order of the county court fixing the assessed value of property.

(b) If there has been no final disposition of an appeal prior to the last day fixed by law for the payment of the taxes without penalty, the taxpayer shall have thirty (30) days after final disposition of the appeal within which to pay the taxes without penalty.

(c) Upon appeal of a personal property tax assessment to the circuit court, the taxpayer appealing the personal property tax assessment shall pay: (1) To the county collector as otherwise provided by law the amount the taxpayer claims is owed under the personal property tax assessment; and (2) Into the registry of the circuit court an amount equal to the difference between the personal property tax assessment and the amount the taxpayer claims is owed under the personal property tax assessment.

26-35-901. Taxes erroneously assessed and paid.

(a) (1) When any person has paid taxes on any real property or personal property, erroneously assessed, as defined and described in § 26-28-111(c), upon satisfactory proof being adduced to the county court of this fact, the county court shall make an order directed to the county treasurer refunding to the person the amount of tax so erroneously assessed and paid. (2) All erroneous assessment claims for property tax refunds shall be made within three (3) years from the date the taxes were paid. (3) If an erroneous assessment claim is for erroneous assessments made in two (2) or more tax years, the county court may order that the property tax refund be made in up to two (2) equal annual installments, by December 31 of each year, beginning with the year in which the order is entered. (4) A clerk of a county court shall not charge a fee for filing a petition with the county court requesting a refund under this section.

(b) The general fund of the county shall be reimbursed by transfer to it from funds of the respective taxing units, and the amount contributed by each taxing unit shall be the amount of the erroneous payment received by the taxing unit.

26-36-201. Dates taxes due and payable.

(a) (1) All taxes levied on real estate and personal property for the county courts of this state, when assembled for the purpose of levying taxes, are due and payable at the county collector's office between the first business day of March and October 15 inclusive. (2) All taxes unpaid after October 15 are delinquent.

(b) (1) The county collector shall extend a penalty of ten percent (10%) against all delinquent taxpayers that have not paid their taxes within the time limit specified. (2) The county collector shall collect the penalty provided in subdivision (b)(1) of this section.

(c) The county collector shall extend an additional penalty of ten percent (10%) upon all delinquent taxpayers if the taxpayers' delinquent personal property taxes are not satisfied or paid in full by October 15 following the purchase of a business or the assets, goods, chattels, inventory, or equipment of a business not in the ordinary course of business.

(d) A penalty shall not be assessed against a taxpayer who is a member of the United States armed forces, reserve component of the armed forces, or the National Guard during the taxpayer's deployment plus one (1) tax year after the deployment ends.

(e) When October 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday observed by the United States Postal Service, the taxes shall become due and payable the following business day that is not a holiday observed by the United States Postal Service.

26-36-202. Payment of delinquent taxes.

(a) No taxes returned delinquent shall be paid into the State Treasury except by the county collector.

(b) It shall be the duty of the county collector to add a penalty of ten percent (10%) upon all taxes returned delinquent, which shall be collected in the manner provided for the collection of delinquent taxes.

26-2-109. Collector purchasing tax land.

(a) No collector or his or her deputy, either directly or indirectly, shall be concerned in the purchase of any tract of land or town lot sold for the payment of taxes.

(b) A person violating this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500).

26-2-103. Loaning or using public money by officials.

If any county treasurer, collector, or sheriff loans any money belonging to the state or county, with or without interest, or uses it for his own purposes, he shall forfeit and pay for every such offense a sum not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor less than five hundred dollars ($500), to be recovered in a civil action at the suit of the state, for the use of the state, county, city, town, or body politic.

26-3-203. Mobile homes and manufactured homes.

(a) Mobile homes and manufactured homes shall be deemed real property for the purpose of ad valorem property taxation.

(b) Real property taxes and any interest, penalties, or other charges on a mobile home on a leased site in a mobile home park or any other leased site, and any assessment or user fee chargeable to the owner of the mobile home and constituting a lien, shall be assessed and levied against the owner of the mobile home whose name appears on the certificate or other acceptable evidence of ownership, and shall be a lien on the mobile
home or manufactured home only.

(c) When the property tax on mobile homes and manufactured homes which are now assessed as real property become delinquent, the delinquent real property tax shall be attached to the personal property tax of the owner of the mobile home or manufactured home and the collector shall not accept payment of the personal property taxes without collecting payment of the delinquent real property taxes at that time.

26-3-206. Property used for other than church purposes Exemption.

(a) All real or personal property owned by any church and held for, or used for, commercial, business, rental, or investment purposes, or purposes other than church purposes, shall be listed for assessment. The ad valorem tax shall be paid thereon at the same rate and at the time and in the same manner provided by law for any other property owner.

(b) However, in the event any property is used partially for church purposes and partially for investments or other commercial or business purposes, the property shall be exempt from the ad valorem tax.

26-3-301. Property exempt from taxes generally.

All property described in this section, to the extent limited, shall be exempt from taxation:

(1) Public school buildings and buildings used exclusively for public worship and the grounds attached to these buildings necessary for the proper occupancy, use, and enjoyment of the buildings, not leased or otherwise used with a view to profit;

(2) All public institutions of higher learning and all buildings and grounds belonging to those institutions;

(3) All lands used exclusively as graveyards or grounds for burying the dead, except those held by any person, company, or corporation with a view to profit or for the purpose of speculation in the sale of the lands;

(4) All property, whether real or personal, belonging exclusively to this state, including property of state agencies, institutions, boards, or commissions, or the United States;

(5) All property, whether real or personal, belonging exclusively to any county of this state;

(6) All lands, houses, and other buildings belonging to any county, city, or town used exclusively for the accommodation of the poor;

(7) All buildings belonging to institutions of purely public charity, together with the land actually occupied by these institutions, not leased or otherwise used with a view to profit, and all moneys and credits appropriated solely to sustaining, and belonging exclusively to, these institutions;

(8) All fire engines and other implements used for the extinguishment of fires, with the buildings used exclusively for the safekeeping of the fire engines and other implements used for the extinguishment of fires, and for the meeting of fire companies, whether belonging to any town or to any fire company organized in the town;

(9) All market houses, public squares, other public grounds, town and city houses or halls owned and used exclusively for public purposes, and all works, machinery, and fixtures belonging to any town and used exclusively for conveying water to the town;

(10) Public property which may be reserved for use by any person or organization, with or without a fee for such use, and is being used exclusively for public purposes, regardless of whether the event for which the property is reserved is open for attendance or participation by the general public;

(11) All property owned by the Girls' 4-H house, Boys' 4-H house, and the Future Farmers of America houses when the houses are used for the sole purpose of occupancy and use and enjoyment by students on the property and not leased or otherwise used with a view to profit; and

(12) (A) Under the provisions of this section, all dedicated church property, including the church building used as a place of worship, buildings used for administrative or mission purposes, the land upon which the church buildings are located, all church parsonages, any church educational building operated in connection with the church, including a family life or activity center, a recreation center, a youth center, a church association building, a day care center, a kindergarten, or a private church school shall be exempt.

(B) However, in the event any property is used partially for church purposes and partially for investments or other commercial or business purposes, the property shall be exempt from the ad valorem tax.

26-3-306. Disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and minor dependent children.

(a) (1) (A) (i) A disabled veteran who has been awarded special monthly compensation by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the loss of, or the loss of use of, one (1) or more limbs, for total blindness in one (1) or both eyes, or for service-connected one hundred percent (100%) total and permanent disability shall be exempt from payment of all state taxes on the homestead and personal property owned by the disabled veteran.

(ii) (a) In the event that the disabled veteran sells his or her home, the exemption shall be prorated to the date of sale so that the disabled veteran shall owe no tax for the portion of the year he or she claimed the home as a homestead, and the purchaser shall be liable only for taxes relating to the balance of the year.

(b) Upon request by the disabled veteran, the county collector shall make such record entries as may be necessary to effect the proration.

(B) (i) Upon the death of the disabled veteran, the surviving spouse and minor dependent children of the disabled veteran shall be exempt from payment of all state taxes on the homestead and personal property owned by the surviving spouse and minor dependent children of the deceased disabled veteran.

(ii) The surviving spouse and minor dependent children of a member of the United States armed forces who was killed while within the scope of his or her military duties, who died while within the scope of his or her military duties, or who is missing in action and the surviving spouse and minor dependent children of a veteran who died from service-connected causes, as certified by the department, shall also be exempt from payment of all state taxes on the homestead and personal property owned by the surviving spouse and minor dependent children.

(iii) (a) The surviving spouse shall be entitled to the exemption provided for in this section so long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried.

(b) The surviving spouse's exemptions provided for in this section are reinstated upon the termination of the surviving spouse's subsequent marriage.

(iv) A surviving spouse of a member of the United States armed forces who died while on active duty shall be eligible for reinstatement of the homestead and personal property tax exemption upon termination of a subsequent marriage and until the surviving spouse remarries.

(v) The exemption provided in this section for surviving minor dependent children shall be available to the surviving children during their minority.

(2) As used in this section, personal property means only those items of tangible personal property used for other than a commercial or business purpose.

(b) (1) (A) A disabled veteran eligible for the exemption provided for in this section and desiring to claim an exemption shall furnish to the county collector a letter from the department verifying the fact that the disabled veteran is in receipt of special monthly compensation for the loss of or the loss of use of one (1) or more limbs, total blindness in one (1) or both eyes, or for service-connected one hundred percent (100%) total and
permanent disability.

(B) (i) A surviving spouse or minor dependent child of a deceased disabled veteran desiring to claim the exemption provided in this section shall furnish the county collector a letter from the department verifying the fact that the deceased disabled veteran was at the time of death entitled to receive a special monthly compensation for the loss of or the loss of use of one (1) or more limbs, total blindness in one (1) or both eyes, or for service-connected one hundred percent (100%) total and permanent disability.

(ii) In addition to the requirements in subdivision (b)(1)(B)(i) of this section, the surviving spouse or minor dependent child of the deceased disabled veteran shall furnish the county collector with an affidavit signed by the surviving spouse or minor dependent child stating that the surviving spouse or minor dependent child is a surviving spouse or minor dependent child of the named deceased disabled veteran.

(2) (A) The surviving spouse or minor dependent children of a member of the United States armed forces who was killed while within the scope of his or her military duties, who died while within the scope of his or her military duties, or who is missing in action, or a surviving spouse or minor dependent children of a veteran who died of service-connected causes, as certified by the department, desiring to claim the exemption provided in this section shall furnish the county collector a letter from the department certifying the fact that such a member of the United States armed forces is missing in action, was killed while within the scope of his or her military duties, or died while within the scope of his or her military duties or that the veteran died from service-connected causes and the surviving spouse is or would be entitled to department benefits in the form of death indemnity compensation if the surviving spouse were otherwise eligible to receive the department benefits.

(B) In addition, the surviving spouse or minor dependent child shall furnish the county collector with an affidavit signed by the surviving spouse or minor dependent child or the surviving spouse or minor dependent child's guardian stating that the surviving spouse or minor dependent child is a surviving spouse or minor dependent child of the member of the United States armed forces who is missing in action, who was killed while within the scope of his or her military duties, or who died while within the scope of his or her military duties or is the surviving spouse or minor dependent child of a veteran who died of service-connected causes as certified by the department.

(c) Only a disabled veteran and a surviving spouse and minor dependent child of a disabled veteran who are citizens and residents of the State of Arkansas shall be eligible for the exemption provided in this section.

(d) Any person evading or violating any provision of this section or attempting to secure benefits under this section to which he or she is not entitled shall be guilty of a violation and upon conviction shall be fined in any sum not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(e) A person claiming the property tax exemption authorized by this section shall not be entitled to claim the property tax credit authorized in 26-26-1118.

(f)(1) If a person has established eligibility for the property tax exemption created under this section, the person shall be exempt from the date the person's eligibility is established regardless of the date the lien for the property taxes attached.

(2) After a person has established eligibility for the property tax exemption created under this section, the person is exempt from property taxes on his or her homestead regardless of where the homestead is located in the state.

(3) Upon request by a county in which a person eligible for the property tax exemption created under this section is claiming an exemption for his or her homestead, a county collector shall provide the information or documentation necessary to demonstrate that the person established eligibility for the exemption created under this section in a county in which the person previously clamed a homestead.