States to zero-in on tax cheats, beef up enforcement as economy sags

ALBANY —The U.S. financial meltdown is creating brighter job prospects for at least one occupation: tax collector.

Several states — including New York, Massachusetts, California and Illinois — are beefing up tax enforcement and collection efforts as they face widening budget deficits.

“As their budgets quickly hit the skids and the pressure is on, they’re going to be looking to see where those dollars are,” said Verenda Smith of the Federation of Tax Administrators, an association of tax agencies from all 50 states.