Join me as we talk tax records!
July is devoted to genealogy tips that are a bit “out of the box”.
Welcome to DAY 20 of the 31 Days of “Out of the Box” Genealogy Tips series! Need to start at the beginning of the series or catch up? Start here.
DAY 20 – Tax Records
Tax records are among my favorite genealogy sources. Why? Because they let you follow an ancestor year by year, filling the gaps between decennial census records.
Tax lists also reveal details about an ancestor’s life and surroundings, such as:
- Estimated age or age range
- Relative wealth or property value
- Who lived nearby
- Local creeks, roads, and waterways that crossed property
- Names of neighbors and landholders
These clues often point to additional records—deeds, probate, local histories, and more—that can expand your research.
Genealogy Tip – Resist the urge to copy the bare facts and run. Spend time on the page: note recurring surnames, identify large landowners, and observe patterns in property and valuation. Those observations can reveal relationships, migration patterns, or neighbors who may be relatives or associates.
What tax records contain will vary by time and place. That variability can be useful—and sometimes frustrating—so always interpret entries within their historical context.
Most importantly, know the tax laws and requirements for the period you are researching. Understanding who was taxed, what property or persons were taxed, and the age or gender restrictions on a given tax will prevent misinterpretation. For example, a poll tax might apply only to men within a specific age range; someone absent from the list could simply have been exempt, not evasive or missing.
Where To Find Tax Records
Tax rolls are often not fully digitized. Check state archives, county courthouses, and local repositories for original books, bound lists, or loose papers. Many state archives are gradually adding tax lists to their digital collections, so revisit those sites periodically.
Tax lists are also frequently available on microfilm, which many libraries can obtain through interlibrary loan. For example, researchers of Virginia families can request tax rolls from the Library of Virginia via ILL. Ask your local librarian about microfilm holdings and interlibrary loan options for tax records relevant to your area of interest.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Determine whether the tax records you need are available online. If they are, start searching. If not, make a plan to consult them at an archive, courthouse, or through interlibrary loan.
Check out previous posts in the 31 Days of Out of the Box Genealogy Tips:
[one-half-first]
- Day 1 – Volunteer!
- Day 2 – Genealogy Wikis
- Day 3 – Cemetery Research
- Day 4 – Newspaper Society Pages
- Day 5 – Vertical Files
- Day 6 – Religious Periodicals
- Day 7 – Unplug Your Genealogy
- Day 8 – Cultural Periodicals
- Day 9 – Facebook Groups
- Day 10 – DNA Education
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[one-half]
- Day 11 – Funeral Records
- Day 12 – Occupational Records
- Day 13 – School Records
- Day 14 – Civil War Veterans Homes
- Day 15 – War of 1812 Pensions
- Day 16 – Twitter Chats
- Day 17 – Mortality Schedules
- Day 18 – Non-population Schedules
- Day 19 – 1890 Census Fragments
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