§ 141.250 RSMo — Equality of tax liens — priorities — distribution of proceeds

1. The respective liens of the tax bills for general taxes of the state of Missouri, the county, any municipality and any school district, for the same tax year, shall be equal and first liens upon the real estate described in the respective tax bills thereof; provided, however, that the liens of such tax bills for the latest year for which tax bills are unpaid shall take priority over the liens of tax bills levied and assessed for less recent years, and the lien of such tax bills shall rate in priority in the order of the years for which the tax bills are delinquent, the lien of the tax bill longest delinquent being junior in priority to the lien of the tax bill for the next most recent tax year.

2. All tax bills for other than general taxes shall constitute liens junior to the liens for general taxes upon the real estate described therein; provided, however, that a tax bill for other than general taxes, of the more recent issue shall likewise be senior to any such tax bill of less recent date.

3. The proceeds derived from the sale of any lands encumbered with a tax lien or liens shall be distributed to the owners of such liens in the order of the seniority of the liens. Those holding liens of equal rank shall share in direct proportion to the amounts of their respective liens.