KRS 134.127: Payment of amount due on certificate of delinquency to the clerk.

(1) (a) The following persons may pay to the county clerk at any time the total

amount due on a certificate of delinquency or personal property certificate of

delinquency that is owned by the taxing jurisdictions and in the possession of

the county clerk. It shall be the responsibility of the person seeking to pay the

county clerk to provide sufficient proof to the county clerk that he or she

meets the requirements to pay under this paragraph. The county clerk shall be

held harmless if he or she relies upon inf ormation provided and accepts

payment from a person not qualified to pay under this paragraph. The county

clerk may also accept partial payments from these persons:

1. The person primarily liable on the certificate of delinquency or personal

property certificate of delinquency, or a person paying on behalf of the

person primarily liable on the certificate, provided that a person paying

on behalf of the person primarily liable on the certificate under this

paragraph shall, notwithstanding the provisions of K RS 134.126(5), be

treated in the same manner as the person primarily liable on the

certificate and shall not be treated as an assignee or a transferee under

the provisions of this chapter; and

2. The following persons may pay a certificate of delinquency o r personal

property certificate of delinquency that relates to the specific property in

which he or she has an interest, other than a person whose only interest

in the property is an interest resulting from a prior year certificate of

delinquency:

a. Any p erson having a legal or equitable estate in real property

subject to a certificate of delinquency;

b. A tenant or lawful occupant of real property, or a bailee or person

in possession of any personal property; or

c. Any person having a mortgage on real pro perty or a security

interest in real or personal property.

Upon full payment of a certificate of delinquency under this

subparagraph, KRS 134.126(5), (6), (7), and (8) shall apply regarding

the rights and interests of the person making the payment.

(b) Any other person may pay the total amount due on a certificate of delinquency

that is owned by the taxing jurisdictions and in the possession of the county

clerk to the county clerk after ninety (90) days have passed from the filing of

the tax claims with the county clerk in accordance with KRS 134.128.

(c) 1. Only the persons listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection may pay a

personal property certificate of delinquency. Personal property

certificates of delinquency shall not be included in any sale conduc ted

under KRS 134.128, and may not be purchased by any third party not

specifically listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

2. A certificate of delinquency on property of a public service company

that is centrally assessed, and that includes personal p roperty and real

property on the same certificate of delinquency, shall be treated for all

purposes as a certificate of delinquency on real property.

(2) The duties of the county clerk with regard to payment of a certificate of delinquency

or personal property certificate of delinquency by a person other than the person

primarily liable on the certificate, are set forth in KRS 134.126(5) and (6).

(3) (a) The delinquent taxpayer or any person having a legal or equitable estate in the

property covered by a certificate of delinquency may, at any time, pay the total

amount due to a third -party purchaser of a certificate of delinquency. The

third-party purchaser may also accept payment from any other person at any

time.

(b) When full payment for a certificate of delinquency is made to a third -party

purchaser, the third -party purchaser shall execute a release of the lien in

accordance with the provisions of KRS 382 .365. The remedies included in

KRS 382.365 shall apply if the third-party purchaser fails to release the lien as

provided in KRS 382.365.

(c) Any person other than the person primarily liable on a certificate of

delinquency who pays a certificate of delinq uency to a third -party purchaser

may, by paying a fee pursuant to KRS 64.012, have the county clerk record

the payment, and the recordation shall constitute an assignment thereof, and

KRS 134.126(6) and (8) shall apply. Failure of an assignee to record the

assignment shall render the claim of such person to any real estate represented

thereby inferior to the rights of other bona fide purchasers, payors, or

creditors.

(d) If the third -party purchaser fails to release the lien in accordance with the

provisions of KRS 382.365, or to surrender the certified copy of the certificate

of delinquency to the person making full payment within thirty (30) days after

payment has been tendered at the mailing address designated in the notice

required by KRS 134.490 or the mailing address of record in the county clerk's

office if no notice has been provided as required by KRS 134.490, the person

making the payment shall have all of the remedies provided in KRS 382.365.

(e) 1. A person entitled to make payment under this sect ion who is having

difficulty locating the third -party purchaser of the certificate of

delinquency to make payment may send a registered letter addressed to

the third -party purchaser of record at the address reflected in the most

recent notice received from the third -party purchaser pursuant to KRS

134.490, or if no notice has been received, at the address reflected in the

records of the county clerk, indicating a desire to make payment. If the

letter is returned by mail unclaimed, or if the third -party purchaser fails

to respond in writing within thirty (30) days, the sender may take to the

county clerk as proof of mailing the certified mail receipts stamped by

the post office showing that the certified letter was mailed to the correct

address and the date i t was mailed. If the letter was returned, the sender

shall also provide the returned letter to the clerk. The sender shall attest

under oath that the letter was mailed to the correct address, and if the

letter was not returned, the attestation shall also p rovide that the third -

party purchaser did not respond in writing within thirty (30) days of the

date the letter was mailed. The department shall develop attestation

forms for distribution to the county clerks that include a notice that any

false statement made in the attestation shall be punishable by law. The

form shall be a public record as defined in KRS 519.010, subject to KRS

519.060(1)(a). The clerks' taking of such testimony shall be an official

proceeding under KRS 523.010(3).

2. Upon the acceptance of proof and attestation by the county clerk that the

person has failed in his or her attempt to contact the third -party

purchaser about making payment, the person may pay the full amount

due as reflected in the records maintained by the county clerk plus

applicable interest, and the county clerk shall make the necessary

assignment or release of the certificate of delinquency. The county clerk

shall also discharge any notice filed pursuant to KRS 382.440 or

382.450 as provided in KRS 382.470, except the co unty clerk shall

prepare and record an in -house release executed by the county clerk

along with the proof of payment, rather than requiring the signature or

writing as required by KRS 382.470. The clerk shall receive a fee

pursuant to KRS 64.012 for recording the release.

3. The county clerk shall deposit the money paid in an escrow account for

this specific purpose in a bank having its deposits insured with the

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The name of the bank in which

the money is deposited shal l be noted on the certificate of delinquency.

The county clerk may maintain one (1) escrow account for all deposits

made pursuant to this subparagraph and shall maintain a record

reflecting the amount due each owner of a certificate of delinquency.

4. The county clerk may deduct the sum of twenty dollars ($20) as a fee for

such service.

5. The county clerk shall mail a copy of the certificate of delinquency by

regular mail to the third -party purchaser of record at the address on the

certificate of delinquency.

6. If any county clerk fails to pay to the person entitled thereto, upon

written demand clearly identified as a demand for payment, the money

received in payment of a certificate of delinquency, the county clerk and

the county clerk's sureties shall be liable for the amount of the payment

and twenty percent (20%) interest thereon annually from the fifteenth

day after the time the county clerk received the written demand until

paid.

(4) Copies of the records provided for in this section and KRS 134.126, when certified

by the county clerk, shall be evidence of the facts stated in them in all the courts of

this state.