This section limits when a taxing unit may collect delinquent property taxes from a decedent’s estate in probate.
Sec. 34.002. ACTIONS TO COLLECT DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES. (a) This section applies only to a decedent's estate that: (1) is being administered in a pending probate proceeding; (2) owns or claims an interest in property against which a taxing unit has imposed ad valorem taxes that are delinquent; and (3) is not being administered as an independent administration under Chapter 401 and Section 402.001. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, if the probate proceedings are pending in a foreign jurisdiction or in a county other than the county in which the taxes were imposed, a suit to foreclose the lien securing payment of the taxes or to enforce personal liability for the taxes must be brought under Section 33.41, Tax Code, in a court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the taxes were imposed. (c) If the probate proceedings have been pending for four years or less in the county in which the taxes were imposed, the taxing unit may present a claim for the delinquent taxes against the estate to the personal representative of the estate in the probate proceedings. (d) If the taxing unit presents a claim against the estate under Subsection (c): (1) the claim of the taxing unit is subject to each applicable provision in Subchapter A, Chapter 124, Subchapter B, Chapter 308, Subchapter F, Chapter 351, and Chapters 355 and 356 that relates to a claim or the enforcement of a claim in a probate proceeding; and (2) the taxing unit may not bring a suit in any other court to foreclose the lien securing payment of the taxes or to enforce personal liability for the delinquent taxes before the first day after the fourth anniversary of the date the application for the probate proceeding was filed. (e) To foreclose the lien securing payment of the delinquent taxes, the taxing unit must bring a suit under Section 33.41, Tax Code, in a court of competent jurisdiction for the county in which the taxes were imposed if: (1) the probate proceedings have been pending in that county for more than four years; and (2) the taxing unit did not present a delinquent tax claim under Subsection (c) against the estate in the probate proceeding. (f) In a suit brought under Subsection (e), the taxing unit: (1) shall make the personal representative of the decedent's estate a party to the suit; and (2) may not seek to enforce personal liability for the taxes against the estate of the decedent. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1481, Sec. 36, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Transferred, redesignated and amended from Probate Code, Art/Sec 5C by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093), Sec. 6.009, eff. January 1, 2014.