§ 105-385.  Duty to pay taxes on real property; judicial sales; sales under powers; governmental purchasers.

(a) Judicial Sales. - In all civil actions and special proceedings in which the sale of any real property is ordered, the judgment shall provide for the payment of all taxes then constituting a lien upon the property and all special assessments or installments thereof then due, and the tax liens and special assessments shall be satisfied from the proceeds of the sale before the proceeds are disbursed. The judgment in such a civil action or special proceeding shall adjust the disbursements for taxes and special assessments between the parties to the action or special proceeding in accordance with their respective rights.

(b) Sales under Powers. - Any person who sells real property under a power of sale conferred upon him by a deed, will, power of attorney, mortgage, deed of trust, or assignment for the benefit of creditors shall from the proceeds of the sale first satisfy all taxes  constituting a lien upon the real property and all special assessments or installments thereof then due unless the notice of sale provided that the property would be sold subject to tax liens and special assessments, and it was so sold.

(c) Governmental Purchasers. - Any agency, department, or institution of the State of North Carolina and any county or municipal corporation that purchases real property shall satisfy all taxes constituting a lien upon the property purchased and all special assessments or installments thereof then due by deducting the amount of the taxes and special assessments from the purchase price and paying it to the proper taxing unit or units. Any agency, department,  or institution of the State and any county or municipal corporation that fails to make the deductions and payments required by this subsection (c) shall be liable to the taxing unit or units to which the taxes and special assessments are owed for the amount thereof. This liability may be enforced in a civil action brought by the taxing unit or units to which the taxes and special assessments are owed in the appropriate trial division of the General Court of Justice of the  county in which the property is located; this remedy shall be in addition to any remedies the taxing unit may have against the grantor of the property. (1901, c. 558, s. 47; Rev., s. 2857; C.S., s. 7980; 1929, c. 231, s. 1; 1951, c. 252, s. 1; 1971, c. 806, s. 1.)