Caterpillar Inc CAT Tax Fraud Scandal Case Study

Case Study of Caterpillar Inc CAT Tax Fraud Scandal Accounting Overview. Caterpillar Inc. previously (1925–present) as understood inventory image CAT, With 2020 income and revenues of $51.0 billion. It is an American Fortune one hundred business enterprise that designs, develops, engineers, manufactures, markets, and sells machinery, engines, economic products, and insurance plan to clients by using an international supplier network. It is the world’s greatest construction equipment manufacturer.

Here are the articles to explain, Accounting Overview on a Case Study of Caterpillar Inc CAT Tax Fraud Scandal

Accounting fraud is the manipulation of financial statements to benefit the business financially or to create a false appearance of financial health. In the situation of Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) – a manufacturer of heavy construction and mining equipment, diesel-electric locomotives, diesel, and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. The payment of federal income taxes on their earnings stood avoided to boost the company’s financial status. Also, Saving the company billions of dollars and keeping its stock price high.

Caterpillar, 2020

CAT 2020, having more than 500 locations worldwide – including the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East – is vast in size and an economic standpoint, with sales and revenues of $53.9 billion in the year 2019. However, a lawsuit against Caterpillar Inc. for inadequate tax disclosure greatly impacted the company from the period of 2013 to 2017.

Drucker, 2017

A great portion of Caterpillar Inc.’s investigation focused on a Switzerland-based parts subsidiary, known as Caterpillar SARL (CSARL). Over 13 years, the company had cut its tax bills by approximately $2.4 billion. Through the taxation of its profits in Switzerland. Where the tax rate had not reached nearly as great as the U.S. top corporate rate of 35%.

Grayson, 2018

Although the vast majority of CAT’s sales occurred in the U.S., 85% of the company’s part sales stood recorded to CSARL (Grayson, 2018). The company’s scheme had stood revealed when an anonymous employee, later revealed as tax-department employee Daniel Schlicksup, threatened to tip off the International Revenue Service.

He accused the company of using what he referred to as the “Swiss structure” and the “Bermuda structure”. Through the transportation of their profits to offshore shell companies to avoid the payment of U.S. taxes. Which were incomparable to the effective tax rate as low as 4% in Switzerland and Bermuda.

Reilly, 2018

From February 12, 2013, to March 1, 2017, the lawsuit sought class-action status and stood dismissed without prejudice. Which gave Societe Generale the authority to bring it again if it existed thought to be necessary.

Stempel, 2018

On March 2, 2017, law enforcement officials, including the IRS, raided three of the company’s Illinois-based facilities, confiscating electronic records and documents. The day following these raids, the lawsuit against Caterpillar Inc. stood filed on March 3, 2017.

Newswires, 2018

As CAT stood seen to have violated the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Which protected investors by reviewing legislative audit requirements and improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures, the lawsuit was put in order. Due to this, stakeholders – including stockbrokers, creditors, and customers – feared a loss. Affects the stock price and the corporation overall negatively.

Drucker, 2017

Caterpillar Inc.’s stock market value sank over $2.4 billion after the company’s facilities and headquarters in Peoria, Illinois was raided by the Department of Commerce, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, and International Revenue Service a total of three times. Following the report by Leslie A. Robinson, an accounting professor at the Tuck School of Business, in the New York Times. CAT’s shares were down by another 3%, causing the dollar value of the scandal to be approximately $2.5 billion.

Yu, 2017

As a result of the case, David Schlicksup, the global tax strategy manager, accountant, and whistleblower of this case, expect to receive about 30% of what the government can recover.

Stempel, 2018

As a result of IRS audits of its 2013 to 2017 tax returns, Caterpillar Inc. faces $2.3 billion worth of back taxes and penalties. CAT’s lawsuit is a reflection of the government’s capability of finding businesses that manipulate. Their financial operations improve their financial status. As GAAP Principles and legislations enacted to protect stakeholders stand often violated, operations. Such as the International Revenue Service, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Are very effective to detect and inspecting these issues. Caterpillar Inc.’s manipulation is just another example of the significance of auditors. And a reminder to other businesses of the necessity, to be honest, and cooperative with the GAAP Principles and accounting legislations.