While Utah is getting better at collecting overdue taxes, a new audit says delinquent taxpayers still owe more than $552 million for the past five tax years.
One key reason that more is not recovered: the state laid off the equivalent of five collection agents because of budget cuts, according to a legislative audit released Tuesday.
The audit added that for every 2 cents spent on collection agents, the state tends to retrieve $1 in revenue.
“We recommend that the Legislature consider funding additional collection agents,” the audit says.
Scott W. Smith, interim executive director of the Utah State Tax Commission agrees.