Whistleblowing and caterpillar inc.’s swiss tax strategy

Amy Lysak, Richard Marmon, Edward J. Schoen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This case describes the background of the whistleblower complaint, filed by Daniel Schlicksup, questioning the propriety of Caterpillar Inc.’s “Swiss tax strategy”. The Swiss tax strategy was recommended by its independent auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and designed to transfer to a Swiss entity the profits earned on its sales of “purchased finished replacement parts” to foreign marketers. This strategy enabled Caterpillar to shift 8 billion in replacement parts sales to Switzerland and to avoid or defer paying U.S. taxes on that income. Daniel Schlicksup, a member of Caterpillar’s tax staff, filed an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblower complaint against Caterpillar and provided the IRS extensive documentation that served as the foundation for the IRS’s claim Caterpillar owed 2 billion in back taxes and penalties, potentially entitling Schlicksup to a huge whistleblower award ranging from $300 to 600 million. Careful review of this case facilitates student discussion, and enhances student understanding, of the wisdom and morality of Schlicksup’s whistleblowing activities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)237-250
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Business Ethics Education
Volume17
StatePublished - 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Business and International Management
  • Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous)
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Philosophy
  • Education

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