Gutman points out the contradiction that even as strapped governments are likely to work harder to collect every tax dollar they can find, strapped companies have been holding the line or even cutting back on their tax department staffing, meaning fewer people have to accomplish more. Even though 37% of surveyed companies say they are seeking to improve cash flow by looking harder to find and use tax refunds, credits and incentives, 47% of those same companies say they are holding staffing budgets steady, while 28% are actually cutting staffing. “It may not make sense,” says Gutman, “but that's the way the world works.”

In case ramped up audits aren't enough, a second study by Vertex, a Berwyn, Pa.-based enterprise tax solution vendor, reports that the economic crisis has spurred a record 554 U.S. municipalities to increase tax rates, or add new sales, transit or use taxes, and that 2009 is shaping up to be another big year for tax changes.

“For companies, the real hassle is keeping track of all the changes, up or down,” says Don Fuga, principal research analyst at Vertex. “It gets even harder for companies that don't have an actual presence in a particular jurisdiction, but have to do business there and collect the taxes from customers.” Vertex, which provides calculating software that “bolts onto” a company's existing software platform, he says, keeps its clients informed of rate changes with a monthly report.