§ 141.260 RSMo — Foreclosure of tax lien — tax sale certificate — evidence — priorities

1. Whenever it shall appear that a tax bill has been due and unpaid for a period of at least two years after the date on which, if a general tax bill, it became delinquent, or, if a special tax bill, such bill or any installment thereof became due, the tax lien, represented by such tax bill, and the tax liens of other delinquent tax bills, shall be summarily foreclosed in the manner provided in sections 141.210 to 141.810 .

2. Ownership of a tax bill, or of a tax sale certificate, or certificate of purchase, or tax deed, or any other instrument or record of a tax bill not bearing evidence of cancellation or payment, by the tax district or taxing authority issuing the same, or by any other owner thereof, shall be prima facie evidence of the fact that the tax bill or tax lien represented thereby has not been paid to the tax district or to the owner of the tax bill or tax lien.

3. The holders of tax sale certificates, certificates of purchase, or tax deeds, issued by any municipality, shall be on a parity as to priority of liens and shall have the same rights as the taxing authorities holding or owning general tax bills for the same tax year, and may in like manner foreclose their liens under sections 141.210 to 141.810 .