The scenario depicts a conflict of interest. Rhonda's decision benefits Rhonda at the expense of the company. Rhonda does not fulfill the responsibility to ensure that the company stays profitable, which is a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest, one of the most common ethical issues identified by employees, exists when a person must choose whether to advance his or her own personal interests or those of others.
There is no 39.6% tax bracket, the highest marginal tax is 37%. But we can assume that Mikey had to pay 39.6% in taxes which means that he is in the seventh tax bracket (highest). Since he is classified under the highest tax bracket, he will also pay the highest capital gains rate which is 20%.
Mikey's long term capital gain = $4,950 - $2,400 = $2,550
if he paid regular income taxes = $2,550 x 39.6% = $1,009.80
since he pays capital gains taxes = $2,550 x 20% = $510
