§337.45. Alternative remedies for the collection of taxes

A. In addition to following any of the special remedies provided in this Chapter, the collector may, in his discretion, proceed to enforce the collection of any taxes due under the local ordinance by means of any of the following alternative remedies or procedures:

(1) Assessment and distraint, as provided in R.S. 47:337.48 through 337.60.

(2) Summary court proceeding, as provided in R.S. 47:337.61.

(3) Ordinary suit under the provisions of the general laws regulating actions for the enforcement of obligations.

(4) Demand in reconvention, or third-party demand, in any court of competent jurisdiction or before the Board of Tax Appeals concerning collection of local taxes due, including any related interest, penalties, costs, and attorney fees due under applicable law.            B.(1) The collector may choose which of these procedures he will pursue in each case, and the counter-remedies and delays to which the taxpayer will be entitled will be only those which are not inconsistent with the proceeding initiated by the collector, provided that in every case the taxpayer shall be entitled to proceed under R.S. 47:337.63, except in the following circumstances:

(a) After he has filed a petition with the Board of Tax Appeals for a redetermination of the assessment.

(b) When an assessment for the tax in question has become final.

(c) After the deadline to file an answer or defenses, after he has appeared or he has filed any responsive pleading or defenses in any proceeding or suit involving the same tax obligation pending against him.

(d) When an incidental demand for the same tax obligation is pending against him in a suit by the collector concerning collection of the same tax obligation.

(2) The fact that the collector has initiated proceedings under the assessment and distraint procedure will not preclude him from thereafter proceeding by summary or ordinary court proceedings for the enforcement of the same tax obligation.

Acts 2003, No. 73, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2010, No. 1003, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2014, No. 640, §2, eff. June 12, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 210, §1, eff. June 23, 2015.