State adds manpower to find tax deadbeats

ATLANTA - Georgia tax delinquents be warned: The Department of Revenue is adding more tax agents to go after businesses who owe the state money.

Commissioner Bart Graham said the department has added 36 new tax agents at a cost of $2.2 million in the last few months. But he said the new hires will pay for themselves within four months.

The agents have their work cut out for them. State figures show thousands of businesses owe Georgia nearly $1 billion in taxes.