Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v3.19.3.a.u2
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes [Text Block]
NOTE 9 :
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAX PROVISION
Income before taxes and the provision for taxes consisted of the following:
Years Ended (In Millions)
 
Dec 28,
2019
 
Dec 29,
2018
 
Dec 30,
2017
Income before taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
 
$
13,729

 
$
14,753

 
$
11,141

Non-U.S.
 
10,329

 
8,564

 
9,211

Total income before taxes
 
24,058

 
23,317

 
20,352

Provision for taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
1,391

 
2,786

 
8,307

State
 
37

 
(11
)
 
27

Non-U.S.
 
1,060

 
1,097

 
899

Total current provision for taxes
 
2,488

 
3,872

 
9,233

Deferred:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
597

 
(1,389
)
 
1,680

Other
 
(75
)
 
(219
)
 
(162
)
Total deferred provision for taxes
 
522

 
(1,608
)
 
1,518

Total provision for taxes
 
$
3,010

 
$
2,264

 
$
10,751

Effective tax rate
 
12.5
%
 
9.7
%
 
52.8
%

The difference between the tax provision at the statutory federal income tax rate and the tax provision as a percentage of income before income taxes (effective tax rate) for each period was as follows:
Years Ended
 
Dec 28,
2019
 
Dec 29,
2018
 
Dec 30,
2017
Statutory federal income tax rate
 
21.0
 %
 
21.0
 %
 
35.0
 %
Increase (reduction) in rate resulting from:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-U.S. income taxed at different rates
 
(3.7
)
 
(3.6
)
 
(7.6
)
Research and development tax credits
 
(2.3
)
 
(2.7
)
 
(2.3
)
Domestic manufacturing deduction benefit
 

 

 
(1.3
)
Foreign derived intangible income benefit
 
(3.2
)
 
(3.7
)
 

Tax Reform
 

 
(1.3
)
 
26.8

ISecG divestiture
 

 

 
3.3

Other
 
0.7

 
(0.1
)
 
(1.1
)
Effective tax rate
 
12.5
 %
 
9.7
 %
 
52.8
 %

The majority of the increase in our effective tax rate in 2019 compared to 2018 was driven by one-time benefits that occurred in 2018.
The majority of the decrease in our effective tax rate in 2018 compared to 2017 resulted from initial tax expense from Tax Reform and the tax impacts from the ISecG divestiture that we had in 2017, but not in 2018. The reduction of the U.S. statutory rate, combined with the net impact of the enactment or repeal of specific tax law provisions through Tax Reform, drove the remaining decrease in our effective tax rate in 2018.
We derive the effective tax rate benefit attributed to non-U.S. income taxed at different rates primarily from our operations in China, Hong Kong, Ireland, and Israel. The statutory tax rates in these jurisdictions range from 12.5% to 25.0%. In addition, we are subject to reduced tax rates in China and Israel as long as we conduct certain eligible activities and make certain capital investments. These conditional reduced tax rates expire at various dates through 2026 and we expect to apply for renewals upon expiration.
DEFERRED AND CURRENT INCOME TAXES
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities at the end of each period were as follows:
(In Millions)
 
Dec 28,
2019
 
Dec 29,
2018
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
 
Accrued compensation and other benefits
 
$
740

 
$
570

Share-based compensation
 
294

 
273

Inventory
 
760

 
517

State credits and net operating losses
 
1,511

 
1,297

Other, net
 
515

 
512

Gross deferred tax assets
 
3,820

 
3,169

Valuation allowance
 
(1,534
)
 
(1,302
)
Total deferred tax assets
 
2,286

 
1,867

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment
 
(1,807
)
 
(878
)
Licenses and intangibles
 
(720
)
 
(744
)
Convertible debt
 
(88
)
 
(204
)
Unrealized gains on investments and derivatives
 
(292
)
 
(266
)
Other, net
 
(214
)
 
(318
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
 
(3,121
)
 
(2,410
)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
 
$
(835
)
 
$
(543
)
 
 
 
 
 
Reported as:
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax assets
 
1,209

 
1,122

Deferred tax liabilities
 
(2,044
)
 
(1,665
)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
 
$
(835
)
 
$
(543
)

Change in valuation allowance for deferred tax assets were as follows:
Years Ended (In Millions)
 
Balance at Beginning of Year
 
Additions Charged to Expenses/
Other Accounts
 
Net
(Deductions)
Recoveries
 
Balance at
End of Year
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 28, 2019
 
$
1,302

 
$
239

 
$
(7
)
 
$
1,534

December 29, 2018
 
$
1,171

 
$
185

 
$
(54
)
 
$
1,302

December 30, 2017
 
$
953

 
$
237

 
$
(19
)
 
$
1,171


Deferred tax assets are included within other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The valuation allowance as of December 28, 2019 included allowances primarily related to unrealized state credit carryforwards of $1.5 billion.
As of December 28, 2019, our federal, and non-U.S. net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes were $427 million and $357 million, respectively. Most of the non-U.S. net operating loss carryforwards have no expiration date. The remaining non-U.S. and some U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards expire at various dates through 2040. A significant amount of the net operating loss carryforwards in the U.S. relates to acquisitions and, as a result, is limited in the amount that can be recognized in any one year.
At December 28, 2019, we have undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries of approximately $22.0 billion that we have indefinitely invested, and on which we have not recognized deferred taxes. Estimating the amount of potential tax is not practicable because of the complexity and variety of assumptions necessary to compute the tax.
Current income taxes receivable of $76 million as of December 28, 2019 ($162 million as of December 29, 2018) are included in other current assets. Current income taxes payable of $575 million as of December 28, 2019 ($366.0 million as of December 29, 2018) are included in other accrued liabilities.
Long-term income taxes payable of $4.9 billion as of December 28, 2019 ($4.9 billion as of December 29, 2018) includes uncertain tax positions, reduced by the associated federal deduction for state taxes and non-U.S. tax credits. Long-term income taxes payable may also include other long-term tax liabilities that are not uncertain but have not yet been paid, including the substantial majority of the transition tax from Tax Reform, which is payable over eight years beginning in 2018.
UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS
Unrecognized tax benefits were $548 million as of December 28, 2019 ($283 million as of December 29, 2018 and $211 million as of December 30, 2017). If the remaining balance of unrecognized tax benefits were recognized in a future period, it would result in a tax benefit of $454 million as of December 28, 2019 ($178 million as of December 29, 2018) and a reduction in the effective tax rate. The tax benefit for settlements, effective settlements, and remeasurements was insignificant in all periods presented. Interest, penalties, and accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits were insignificant in the periods presented.
We comply with the laws, regulations, and filing requirements of all jurisdictions in which we conduct business. We regularly engage in discussions and negotiations with tax authorities regarding tax matters in various jurisdictions. Although the timing of the resolutions and/or closures of audits is highly uncertain, it is reasonably possible that certain U.S. federal and non-U.S. tax audits may be concluded within the next 12 months, which could increase or decrease the balance of our gross unrecognized tax benefits. We estimate that the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 28, 2019 could decrease by as much as $300 million in the next 12 months.
We file federal, state, and non-U.S. tax returns. Excluding pre-acquisition Altera tax years, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal and non-U.S. tax examinations for years prior to 2012. For U.S. state tax returns, we are no longer subject to tax examination for years prior to 2012. We are subject to U.S. federal examination for pre-acquisition Altera tax years back to 2004. We have filed petitions before the U.S. Tax Court relating to the treatment of stock-based compensation expense in an inter-company cost-sharing transaction for certain pre-acquisition Altera tax years. The U.S. Tax Court ruled in favor of Altera and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion on the Altera litigation in favor of the government. We filed a petition for rehearing to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which was declined in the fourth quarter of 2019. We are currently assessing next steps.