Tax time is coming a little earlier this year.

Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham said first-half real estate tax bills are being printed now and will be mailed Friday, Jan. 16. The first-half tax deadline will be Feb. 27 — a week earlier than last year.

Some government employees are being offered the option of paying their real estate taxes monthly, through a payroll deduction.

Burcham said he has approached the Briggs-Lawrence County Public Library, the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization and the city of Ironton and the county commission to discuss his proposal.

Instead of paying taxes twice a year, those who voluntarily agree to the withholding will sign up, make their first-half tax payment and then have the second half deducted from their paycheck.

Next year both halves will be deducted.

“I believe we’re the first county in the state to do this,” Burcham said. “It’s always nice to break new ground.

Another new program the treasurer’s office has begun offering is a tax lien sale.

Delinquent taxes, once in that status for at least a year, may be sold to a third party and a percentage added to that amount, plus administrative fees.

The delinquent tax owner must then pay all of this in full in order to wipe out the tax debt.

After a certain period of time, the bidder who pays the delinquent tax bill would be allowed to foreclose on the property.

The first anticipated tax lien sale will be later this year.

Those who want more information may call the treasurer’s office at (740) 533-4304.

Burcham pointed out that this is not an attempt to take a person’s home but rather one more tool he can use to get people to pay their delinquent property taxes.

He also said those who want to avoid a tax lien sale may come to his office and set up a payment contract, as this would avoid further collections action.

Burcham has drawn praise from other officeholders for being innovative in improving tax collections and making it easier for people to pay their real estate taxes.

“I think you’ve brought us into the 21st century,” Lawrence County Commissioner Doug Malone said.