In all civil actions to enforce the collection of a tax on real estate, if it appears that on April 1st of the year for which such tax was assessed, the record title to the real estate listed was in the defendant, he shall not deny his title thereto. If any owner of real estate who has conveyed the same shall forthwith file a copy of the description as given in his deed with the date thereof and the name and last known address of his grantee, in the registry of deeds where such deed should be recorded, he shall be free from any liability under this section.