Pennsylvania Statutes Title 72 P.S. Taxation and Fiscal Affairs § 5511.21. Collection of taxes by suit

(a) A tax collector may institute a suit in assumpsit against a delinquent taxable for the collection of any real property taxes due and unpaid after the fifteenth day of May of the year following the year for which the taxes were levied and assessed if--(1) the property against which such taxes were levied has not been returned to the county commissioners;  and (2) such taxes have not been certified for entry of liens;  and (3) such taxes are not held in the custody of a court as herein provided.  Execution may be had upon any such judgment recovered without any stay or benefit of any exemption law.

(b) In addition to all other remedies provided by this act, each taxing district shall have power to collect unpaid taxes from the persons owing such taxes by suit in assumpsit or other appropriate remedy.  To each judgment obtained for such taxes there shall be added a penalty of ten per centum together with costs of suit.  Upon each such judgment, execution may be issued without any stay or benefit of any exemption law.  The right of each such taxing district to collect unpaid taxes under the provisions of this subsection shall not be affected by the fact that such taxes have been entered as liens in the office of the prothonotary, or the fact that the property against which they were levied has been returned to the county commissioners for taxes for prior years.

(c) In addition to the fine or imprisonment provided by subsection (b) of section 7.1, act of June 26, 1931 (P.L. 1379),  1 any person violating subsection (a) of section 7.1 of said act shall be liable in a civil action or actions to any tax collector or taxing district in an amount equal to the taxes that said district would have imposed upon such property during the time it was erroneously listed as exempt, together with interest at the rate of six per centum per annum.  In case of a dispute as to the assessment that would have applied from time to time, the same shall be determined by the court without proceedings by the board.