Bains Bros. Inv. v. Purdie

SOMERVILLE, J. The appellee, Purdie, filed his bill of complaint shoAving the following facts: Complainant Avas the OAvner of a lot in North Birmingham Avhich Avas sold for city taxes under a decree of the chancery court on December 24, 1909; the respondent company becoming the purchaser for $14.91. On March 18, 1910, complainant tendered to respondent the sum of $17.47 for the redemption of the lot, Avhich sum included, as is alleged, the purchase price, 15 per cent.' interest thereon to the date of the tender, and the re-conveyance fee. This tender was refused by respondent on the ground of its insufficiency, in that a year’s interest was not included, and that $2.50 was not alloAved for the reconveyance deed. At the same time complainant tendered to respondent a prepared quitclaim deed to be executed by it to him for such reconveyance, Avhich respondent declined to do. The amount of the tender Avas paid into court for respondent Avith the filing of the bill of complaint. The prayer of the bill is that the tender be declared sufficient in amount, that all title and interest of respondent in the lot be canceled and held void, and that the legal and equitable title therein be vested in complainant. Respondent demurred to the bill on the grounds: (1) That the statutes (sections. 1328, 1329) furnish an adequate remedy at law for the relief sought; (2) that the bill fails to show that the alleged tender included the amount of taxes due on the lot for the year 1910.; and (3) that, the amount involved being under $50, the chancery court Avas Avithout jurisdiction. [336] In Osborne v. Waddell, 176 Ala. 232, 57 South. 698, we held that the method of redemption from state and county tax sales, as prescribed by sections 2313 and 2314 of the Code, is adequate and exclusive, and that chancery will not entertain a bill for redemption merely. This, however, is a sale by chancery decree, under the new Code provisions, for municipal taxes, and the provisions for redemption therefrom are found in sections 1328 and 1329 of the Code. Under these provisions the redemptor may make the required payment to either the purchaser or the city treasurer, and the effect of the payment — not of an unaccepted tender — • is to render void the register’s deed to the purchaser. By necessary implication, the redemptor is entitled to a reconveyance from the purchaser, and, upon his or his vendee’s refusal to reconvey, the redemptor may apply to the city council, and the council may authorize a suitable deed to be made to him; “but the interest of the owner of the property and the parties in interest redeeming shall be adjusted between the parties as are other legal and equitable interests.” It is clear that these statutes do not furnish a complete and adequate remedy to a redemptor Avho chooses to pay the redemption money directly to the purchaser, in the event of his refusal to accept it. And in case of such refusal, thereby leaving the purchase deed in full force and effect, or where there is a dispute between the parties as to their respective rights in the matter, equity will intervene and, adjudicating their claims and rights, either effectuate or foreclose the attempted redemption. With respect to the tender, it should include those items Avhich are fixed and certain, viz., the purchase price, with 15 per cent, interest to date, and the reconveyance fee. If such a tender has not been made, or [337] is not kept good by payment into court, the redernptor’s bill is without equity; for as to these items there is no uncertainty and there can be no dispute. But, as to the further requirement that he must repay to the purchaser all taxes and assessments paid by him, or for which he has become liable, by reason of owning the property — these being uncertain and subject to dispute — their previous tender or payment cannot be regarded as jurisdictional. The bill, however, should aver complainant’s ignorance of such charges, or their amounts, and should offer to do equity by paying such sums as may be found to be due the purchaser in that behalf; and if the tender has been justly refused on that ground, with a correct specification of the amount due by reason of snch taxes and assessments, the relief shonld not be denied, but the complainant should be taxed with the costs of the suit. The amount of money here at issue between the parties is not material, since the subject-matter of the .suit and the relief sought determine the jurisdiction. We therefore hold that the demurrers were properly overruled. The answer filed by respondent avers that the tender made to it was insufficient, in that it did not include the taxes for the year 1910, for which respondent was then liable; nor the 65 cents paid by him for recording his tax deed; nor the proper amount of interest on the purchase money. In this state taxes assessed against property have always been regarded not only as a lien in rem, but also as a personal debt due from the owner, and collectible by a personal action.—Perry County v. S. M. & M. R. R. Co., 58 Ala. 546. Taxes are assessable on October 1st of each year, and whoever owns property on that date is the taxable owner and personally liable for the [338] year’s taxes. If lie should therefore convey the property to another, he does not thereby escape his personal liability to the state, nor does his grantee ipso facto incur a personal liability,, although the taxes are a charge in rent; but, if such grantee voluntarily assess' the property to himself, he thereby assumes and incurs a personal liability for the taxes. Appellant became the owner of this lot by purchase on December 24, 1909, and had not assessed it to itself at the date of appellee’s tender to it on March 18, 1910. Appellant ivas not then liable for the taxes for 1909-10, and thereafter it had no right to create any charge upon the lot in its own favor, nor to impose any additional burden upon appellee’s right of redemption. If it did so and paid out money in that behalf, it is no concern of appellee’s, and he is not bound to repay it. We are aware of no law requiring the redemptor to pay the fee for recording the register’s tax sale deed, and-its payment or repayment is not a condition to redemption. Affirmed. All the Justices concur.