N.Y. Tax Law § 266
In case the tax imposed by this article is not paid as in this article provided, the tax commission may notify the attorney-general of such failure or refusal to pay and it shall then be the duty of the attorney-general to enforce the payment of such tax, and for that purpose he may maintain an action in the name of the people of the state of New York, in any court of competent jurisdiction, either to sell such mortgage; or, he may maintain an action against the mortgagee or his assignee or successor in interest personally; or, whereby stipulations contained in such mortgage it is made the duty of the mortgagor to pay such tax, or where the mortgagor is liable for the tax imposed under this article, then against the mortgagor or his successor in interest personally; or, in the case of a trust mortgage against the trust mortgagee, personally; or, he may pursue either, any or all such remedies. All actions instituted by the attorney-general, as herein provided, shall, if the amount involved is fifty dollars or more, be brought in the county of Albany. Where, in any action, a recovery is had there shall be added to the amount of such tax and included in the judgment, interest at the rate of one per centum per month on the amount of such tax, to be computed from the date on which such tax became due and payable, except that in the case of taxable mortgages heretofore recorded and upon which the tax imposed by this article has not been paid, and where, in such case, no penalty is prescribed by law for the nonpayment of such tax, interest shall be added at the rate of six per centum per annum. In any action brought as herein provided, where the judgment provides for the sale of the mortgage, such judgment shall also prescribe the time, place and manner of such sale and of the notice thereof to be given, and, in the discretion of the court, may direct that such sale be made by or under the direction of the comptroller or the recording officer of the county in which such mortgage was first recorded, and all money recovered in such action shall be paid by the attorney-general to the proper recording officer in satisfaction of such tax, and all costs recovered therein shall be paid into the state treasury.
Cross-reference: For criminal penalties, see article thirty-seven of this chapter.
N.Y. Tax Law § 266