(1) The tax hereby imposed is levied upon the producers of such oil in the proportion of their ownership at the time of severance, but, except as otherwise herein provided, shall be paid by the person in charge of the production operations, who is hereby authorized, empowered and required to deduct from any amount due to producers of such production at the time of severance the proportionate amount of the tax herein levied before making payments to such producer. Said tax shall become due and payable as provided by this article, and such tax shall constitute a first lien upon any of the oil so produced, when in the hands of the original producer, or any purchaser of such oil in its unmanufactured state or condition. In the event the person in charge of production operations fails to pay the tax, then the commissioner shall proceed against the producer to collect the tax in accordance with the provisions made for the collection of delinquent taxes by the Mississippi Sales Tax Law.

(2) When any person in charge of the production operations shall sell the oil produced by him to any person under contracts requiring such purchaser to pay all owners of such oil direct, then the person in charge of the production operations may not be required to deduct the tax herein levied, but in which event such deduction shall be made by the purchaser before making payments to each owner of such oil, and the purchaser in that case shall account for the tax; provided that nothing herein shall be construed as releasing the person in charge of production operations from liability for the payment of said tax.

(3) When any person in charge of production operations shall sell oil produced by him on the open market, he shall withhold the tax imposed by this article, and if he is required to pay other interest holders, is hereby authorized, empowered and required to deduct from any amount due them, the amount of tax levied and due under the provisions of this article before making payment to them.

(4) Every person in charge of production operations by which oil is severed from the soil or water in this state, who fails to deduct and withhold, as required herein, the amount of tax from sale or purchase price, when such oil is sold or purchased under contract, or agreement, or on the open market, or otherwise, shall be liable to the state for the full amount of taxes, interest, and penalties which should have been deducted, withheld and remitted to the state, and the commissioner shall proceed to collect the tax from the person in charge of production operations, under the provisions of this article, as if he were the producer of the oil.