Changes

The two most common tax records found are [[Real Property|real property]] and [[Personal Property|personal property]] tax records.  Other types of tax records may include but is not limited to [[Delinquent Taxes|delinquent taxes]], inheritance tax duplicates, incorporated companies, and assessment records.

The two most common tax records found are [[Real Property|real property]] and [[Personal Property|personal property]] tax records.  Other types of tax records may include but is not limited to [[Delinquent Taxes|delinquent taxes]], inheritance tax duplicates, incorporated companies, and assessment records.

Property tax lists can be useful for several reasons.  They serve as a substitute census by helping the researcher determine when an individual migrated to the region and when he moved from the area.  They place a particular individual in a particular place at a particular time, very similar to census records and directories.  The main difference is taxes were collected each year.  Federal census records were recorded every 10 years.  Mid-20th century directories were recorded every two years in Wayne County, Ohio and Wooster.  19th-century directories for our area do not exist on a regular schedule.

Property tax lists can be useful for several reasons.  They serve as a substitute census by helping the researcher determine when an individual migrated to the region and when he moved from the area.  They place a particular individual in a particular place at a particular time, very similar to [[Census|census]] records and [[Directories|directories]].  The main difference is taxes were collected each year.  Federal census records were recorded every 10 years.  Mid-20th century directories were recorded every two years in Wayne County, Ohio and Wooster.  19th-century directories for our area do not exist on a regular schedule.

Real property tax lists were kept for the purpose of levying taxes.  The land owner was exempt from paying taxes for the first five (5) years if he was the first owner.  Once the land was sold, it immediately became taxable.  They show the amount of land, location of the property, and the appraised value.  On some real property tax records, the original owner is listed.   

Real property tax lists were kept for the purpose of levying taxes.  The land owner was exempt from paying taxes for the first five (5) years if he was the first owner.  Once the land was sold, it immediately became taxable.  They show the amount of land, location of the property, and the appraised value.  On some real property tax records, the original owner is listed.