If you paid the delinquent property taxes on another person's property can you file a lien against it to recover your expenditure when the property is sold?

YES BUT YOU SHOULD DO IT RIGHT AFTER YOU PAY THE TAXES. * No. The party who paid the delinquent taxes has no legal rights to the property. You cannot automatically place a lien against property other than that of a Mechanic's Lien. The paying of the taxes would be considered a loan, the only option for recovery of the monies if the property owner did not voluntarily repay the amount would be to sue the party in the appropriate state court.