Upon default of the payment of any taxes upon the due date prescribed in this chapter, the tax collector shall proceed immediately to collect all taxes then remaining in default and unpaid, by distress and sale of any personal property liable therefor; provided, however, that if the default relates to the payment of ad valorem taxes on personal property, the tax collector may proceed to collect all such installments in the manner provided for in Sections 27-41-101 through 27-41-109. Such sale shall take place at the courthouse door, unless the property distrained be too cumbersome to be removed; and five (5) days’ notice of the time and place of sale shall be given by advertisements put up in three (3) public places in the county, one (1) of which shall be at the courthouse door; provided, however, that sales for delinquent municipal taxes shall be advertised in the manner and made at the place designated by ordinances adopted by such municipalities. The collector shall be allowed to collect and retain in addition to the taxes, interest, fees and costs, all necessary expenses of removing and keeping the property distrained. If sufficient personal property liable for taxes cannot be found by the tax collector, the tax collector may make a list of indebtedness due the taxpayer by other persons and sell the same as hereinafter provided. It shall be the duty of the tax collector to enforce the provisions herein contained, and to collect all the taxes due by distraint and sale of personal property; and the tax collector shall seize sufficient of the property of said person to pay said taxes by distress, action at law or in equity, which remedies shall be in addition to all other existing remedies. For any taxes levied against any lands due and remaining unpaid, after the fifteenth day of February and the fifteenth day of August the land shall be sold as provided by law for the sale thereof.

As an alternative to the authority granted under this section to county tax collectors to collect delinquent ad valorem taxes by distress and sale of personal property, the board of supervisors of any county, in its discretion, may contract with a private attorney or private collection agent or agents for the collection of delinquent ad valorem taxes on personal property in the manner provided in Section 19-3-41.