(a) Filing. In any case where there has been a refusal or neglect to pay any tax, or to discharge any liability with respect to any tax, whether or not levy has been made, the attorney general and reporter or the attorney general and reporter's delegate, or the staff attorney of the department of revenue or the staff attorney's delegate, at the request of the commissioner or the commissioner's delegate, may direct a civil action to be filed in chancery court to enforce the lien of the state under this title with respect to such tax or liability or to subject any property, of whatever nature, of the delinquent, or in which the delinquent has any right, title, or interest, to the payment of such tax or liability.

(b) Parties. All persons having liens upon or claiming any interest in the property involved in such action shall be made parties to the case.

(c) Adjudication and Decree. The court shall, after the parties have been duly notified of the action, proceed to adjudicate all matters involved in the action and finally determine the merits of all claims to and liens upon the property, and, in all cases where a claim or interest of the state in the action is established, may decree a sale of such property, by the proper officer of the court, and a distribution of the proceeds of such sale according to the findings of the court with respect to the interests of the parties and of the state. If the property is sold to satisfy a first lien held by the state, the state may bid at the sale such sum, not exceeding the amount of such lien with expenses of sale, as the commissioner or the commissioner's delegate directs.

(d) Receivership. In any such proceeding, at the instance of the state, the court may appoint a receiver to enforce the lien or, upon certification by the commissioner or the commissioner's delegate during the pendency of such proceedings that it is in the public interest, may appoint a receiver with all the powers of a receiver in equity.

(e) Intervention by State. If the state is not a party to a civil action or suit, the state may intervene in such action or suit to assert any lien arising under this title on the property that is the subject of such action or suit. In any case in which the application of the state to intervene is denied, the adjudication in such action or suit shall have no effect upon such lien.