Nevada Taxation

Online Resources

 * 1862-1874 - at FamilySearch Images only
 * 1862-? - Early Tax Lists for Nevada Territory Beginning 1862, index

Why Use Tax Records
By studying several consecutive years of tax records you may determine when a young men came of age, when individuals moved in and out of a home, or when they died leaving heirs. Authorities determined wealth (real estate, or income) to be taxed. Taxes can be for polls, real and personal estate, or schools.

Tax record content varies and may include the name and residence of the taxpayer, description of the real estate, name of original purchaser, description of personal property, number of males over 21, number of school children, slaves, and farm animals. Tax records usually are arranged by date and locality and are not normally indexed. Tax records can be used in place of missing land and census records to locate a person’s residence.

County Level
The county courthouse where the property was located is the best place to search for tax records. The tax assessment rolls are also at the same place. The assessment rolls are published annually in the local newspapers and should be on file where the newspapers are currently held, either the actual newspaper or the microfilm. University of Nevada Library at Reno 1664 N. Virginia Street MS 322, Reno Phone: (775) 784-4636
 * The University of Nevada Library at Reno has tax records for the territorial period.

State Level
Tax records for Nevada begin in the 1860's. These records are especially helpful for locating miners or other citizens who didn't own land but were required to pay a poll tax. Division of Archives and Records, holds duplicate assessment rolls for all counties (1891'92), and Ormsby County's assessment rolls (1862'1950). (listed below)

Nevada State Library and Archives Address: 100 N Stewart St, Carson City, NV 89701 Hours: Open ⋅ Closes 5PM Phone: (775) 684-3360


 * 1862-1950 The state library also has the Ormsby County tax records from 1862 to 1950 and the Lander County tax records from 1862 to 1971.
 * 1890-1891 The Nevada State Library and Archives has tax records for 1890 and 1891.
 * Digital Collection at Nevada State Library and Archives



Tax Laws
Abraham Lincoln instituted the income tax in 1862, and on July 1, 1862, Congress passed the Internal Revenue Act, creating the Bureau of Internal Revenue (later renamed to the Internal Revenue Service). This act was intended to “provide Internal Revenue to support the Government and to pay interest on the Public Debt.” Instituted in the height of the Civil War, the “Public Debt” at the time primarily consisted of war expenses. For the Southern States that were part of the Confederate side of the Civil War, once Union troops took over parts of the Southern States, income tax were instituted on them.


 * To learn more about this Collection click here
 * To learn more about the Civil War taxes click here