Final answer:
Harriet, Inc. faced a deficit for the year as it declared dividends of $51,000 which exceeded its net income of $40,000, leading to a shortfall of $11,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
The query at hand relates to Harriet, Inc., a company that reported a net income of $40,000 for the year while declaring dividends totaling $51,000. From an accounting standpoint, this situation suggests the company disbursed more in dividends than it earned in net income, resulting in a drawdown of retained earnings or potentially tapping into other funds. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that Harriet, Inc. faced a deficit for the year.