Life is tranquil in a North German district town; people know each other and help each other out, and the fiscal authorities are no exception. Chief tax inspector Chlodwig Pullmann feels very comfortable with things as they are. But then he gets a new boss. The young Jakob Kronibus is giving his administrative office a throrough clean-out. Initially, Chlodwig hopes to convince his new boss of the merits of a citizen-friendly agency. Far from it. Instead, his casual approach to his profession gets him into serious trouble, with suspension as a consequence. Suddenly the bonvivant finds himself on thin ice. How is he going to explain this mess to his wife Jenny, who is involved in an anti-corruption initiative? And whence should he take the authority to be an example to his 13-year-old son Thorben, who is currently testing the bounds of the civil legal system? Chlodwig only has one option - to become honest!