How did tax collectors help keep the roman empire together?

The tax collectors were responsible for gathering in the revenue that was needed to keep the empire running smoothly. There were three types of tax collectors, the governors, the imperial auditors and the tax farmers. Many times the governors of a province would collect the revenue, take out his share and send the rest to Rome. There were also "tax farmers" who contracted with the government to collect a certain sum from an area. Anything over the amount that Rome wanted went into the tax farmers' pockets. There was also, on occasion, an imperial team of auditors who had the authority to investigate anyone suspected of withholding funds that rightfully belonged to the government.