It is estimated that tax cheaters and evaders in California are ripping off the state by billions of dollars a year, but legislation signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown this week, will work to change that.

Assembly Bill 576 provides for a new investigation and enforcement effort that will include California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) members who are investigators with the Employment Development Department (EDD), the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) all working with the Board of Equalization (BOE).

“These people and businesses making money, yet fudging numbers to avoid taxes and fees, or not reporting all together, hurt our economy, ” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “That’s money that could be used for public safety, consumer protection, public schools and other state services.”

AB 576 will create a centralized intelligence partnership to be known as the Revenue Recovery and Collaborative Enforcement Team until January 1, 2019.