Betty has finally returned to her job as an accountant at Blue Chip Enterprises, a small family

run hardware supplies chain, after a five-year extended maternity break. She has returned at an

important time in the fiscal year: tax season. As she reviews the books for the period she was

gone, she notices little anomalies which suggest that Blue Chip has been reporting much less

income than they have actually made in the last two years.

Troubled by this, Betty approaches the company owner, Mr.Asamoah, who comes clean and explains that he has been altering the books because of a personal financial slump that he fell into

because of a gambling problem. Mr.Asamoah promises that from now on, now that Betty is back, he will no longer attempt to reduce his tax liability because he and the company are in a better

place now. However, he also makes clear to Betty that he cannot afford to pay the back taxes

and their penalties.

If Betty reports the fraud to the tax authorities, the company may close. If it comes out that she

did not report it, she will lose her license.

Questions

1. What are the main ethical issue(s) in this scenario?
2. Set out the possible courses of action open to Betty
3. Assess these alternatives using ethical theories familiar to you
4. What should she do, and why?

Betty has finally returned to her job as an accountant at Blue Chip Enterprises, a small family

run hardware supplies chain, after a five-year extended maternity break. She has returned at an

important time in the fiscal year: tax season. As she reviews the books for the period she was

gone, she notices little anomalies which suggest that Blue Chip has been reporting much less

income than they have actually made in the last two years.

Troubled by this, Betty approaches the company owner, Mr.Asamoah, who comes clean and explains that he has been altering the books because of a personal financial slump that he fell into

because of a gambling problem. Mr.Asamoah promises that from now on, now that Betty is back, he will no longer attempt to reduce his tax liability because he and the company are in a better

place now. However, he also makes clear to Betty that he cannot afford to pay the back taxes

and their penalties.

If Betty reports the fraud to the tax authorities, the company may close. If it comes out that she

did not report it, she will lose her license.

Questions

1. What are the main ethical issue(s) in this scenario?
2. Set out the possible courses of action open to Betty
3. Assess these alternatives using ethical theories familiar to you
4. What should she do, and why?

Betty has finally returned to her job as an accountant at Blue Chip Enterprises, a small family

run hardware supplies chain, after a five-year extended maternity break. She has returned at an

important time in the fiscal year: tax season. As she reviews the books for the period she was

gone, she notices little anomalies which suggest that Blue Chip has been reporting much less

income than they have actually made in the last two years.

Troubled by this, Betty approaches the company owner, Mr.Asamoah, who comes clean and explains that he has been altering the books because of a personal financial slump that he fell into

because of a gambling problem. Mr.Asamoah promises that from now on, now that Betty is back, he will no longer attempt to reduce his tax liability because he and the company are in a better

place now. However, he also makes clear to Betty that he cannot afford to pay the back taxes

and their penalties.

If Betty reports the fraud to the tax authorities, the company may close. If it comes out that she

did not report it, she will lose her license.

Questions

1. What are the main ethical issue(s) in this scenario?
2. Set out the possible courses of action open to Betty
3. Assess these alternatives using ethical theories familiar to you
4. What should she do, and why?

Betty has finally returned to her job as an accountant at Blue Chip Enterprises, a small family

run hardware supplies chain, after a five-year extended maternity break. She has returned at an

important time in the fiscal year: tax season. As she reviews the books for the period she was

gone, she notices little anomalies which suggest that Blue Chip has been reporting much less

income than they have actually made in the last two years.

Troubled by this, Betty approaches the company owner, Mr.Asamoah, who comes clean and explains that he has been altering the books because of a personal financial slump that he fell into

because of a gambling problem. Mr.Asamoah promises that from now on, now that Betty is back, he will no longer attempt to reduce his tax liability because he and the company are in a better

place now. However, he also makes clear to Betty that he cannot afford to pay the back taxes

and their penalties.

If Betty reports the fraud to the tax authorities, the company may close. If it comes out that she

did not report it, she will lose her license.

Questions

1. What are the main ethical issue(s) in this scenario?
2. Set out the possible courses of action open to Betty
3. Assess these alternatives using ethical theories familiar to you
4. What should she do, and why?

Betty has finally returned to her job as an accountant at Blue Chip Enterprises, a small family

run hardware supplies chain, after a five-year extended maternity break. She has returned at an

important time in the fiscal year: tax season. As she reviews the books for the period she was

gone, she notices little anomalies which suggest that Blue Chip has been reporting much less

income than they have actually made in the last two years.

Troubled by this, Betty approaches the company owner, Mr.Asamoah, who comes clean and explains that he has been altering the books because of a personal financial slump that he fell into

because of a gambling problem. Mr.Asamoah promises that from now on, now that Betty is back, he will no longer attempt to reduce his tax liability because he and the company are in a better

place now. However, he also makes clear to Betty that he cannot afford to pay the back taxes

and their penalties.

If Betty reports the fraud to the tax authorities, the company may close. If it comes out that she

did not report it, she will lose her license.

Questions

1. What are the main ethical issue(s) in this scenario?
2. Set out the possible courses of action open to Betty
3. Assess these alternatives using ethical theories familiar to you
4. What should she do, and why?