(a) When real property is sold under this chapter, the purchaser at the sale shall immediately pay the amount of the bid to the county treasurer. The county treasurer shall apply the payment in the following manner:

1. (1) First, to the taxes, special assessments, penalties, and costs described in section 5(e) of this chapter.
2. (2) Second, to other delinquent property taxes in the manner provided in IC 6-1.1-23-5 (b).
3. (3) Third, to a separate "tax sale surplus fund".

(b) A county treasurer shall pay taxes or special assessments, or both, as follows:

1. (1) For any tract or item of real property located in a county containing a consolidated city for which a tax sale certificate is sold under this chapter, if taxes or special assessments, or both, become due on the tract or item of real property during the period of redemption specified under IC 6-1.1-25-4 , the county treasurer may pay the taxes or special assessments, or both, on the tract or item of real property from the tax sale surplus held in the name of the taxpayer, if any, after the taxes or special assessments become due.
2. (2) For any tract or item of real property not located in a county containing a consolidated city for which a tax sale certificate is sold under this chapter, if taxes or special assessments, or both, accrue on the tract or item of real property through and including the year in which the owner of record is divested of title to the real property, the county treasurer shall pay all taxes or special assessments, or both, on the tract or item of real property from the tax sale surplus held in the name of the taxpayer, if any, after the tax bills are mailed. The county auditor must freeze the tax sale surplus until all payments required under this subdivision are paid.

(c) The:

1. (1) owner of record of the real property at the time the real property was certified for sale under this chapter and before the issuance of a tax deed; or

2. (2) tax sale purchaser or purchaser's assignee, upon redemption of the tract or item of real property;

   may file a verified claim for money which is deposited in the tax sale surplus fund. If the claim is approved by the county auditor and the county treasurer, the county auditor shall issue a warrant to the claimant for the amount due.

(d) If the person who claims money deposited in the tax sale surplus fund under subsection (c) is:

1. (1) a person who has a contract or agreement described under section 7.5 of this chapter with a person described in subsection (c)(1); or

2. (2) a person who acts as an executor, attorney-in-fact, or legal guardian of a person described in subsection (c)(1);

   the county auditor may issue a warrant to the person only as directed by the court having jurisdiction over the tax sale of the parcel for which the surplus claim is made.

(e) A court may direct the issuance of a warrant only:

1. (1) on petition by the claimant;
2. (2) within three (3) years after the date of sale of the parcel in the tax sale; and
3. (3) in the case of a petitioner to whom subsection (d)(1) applies, if the petitioner has satisfied the requirements of section 7.5 of this chapter.

(h) When a refund is made to any purchaser or purchaser's successor by reason of the invalidity of a sale, the county auditor shall, at the December settlement immediately following the refund, deduct the amount of the refund from the gross collections in the taxing district in which the land lies and shall pay that amount into the county general fund.

[Pre-1975 Property Tax Recodification Citation: 6-1-56-7.]

Formerly: Acts 1975, P.L.47, SEC.1. As amended by P.L.50-1990, SEC.11; P.L.88-1995, SEC.2; P.L.56-1996, SEC.5; P.L.139-2001, SEC.6; P.L.1-2003, SEC.28; P.L.97-2004, SEC.22; P.L.73-2010, SEC.3; P.L.56-2012, SEC.9; P.L.251-2015, SEC.16; P.L.187-2016, SEC.7; P.L.85-2017, SEC.17; P.L.66-2021, SEC.6.