Taxes on Earnings	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Taxes on Earnings
Taxes on Earnings	Note 12 — Taxes on Earnings Taxes on earnings from continuing operations reflect the estimated annual effective rates and include charges for interest and penalties. In the first six months of 2014, taxes on earnings from continuing operations reflect the recognition of $58 million of net tax benefits as the result of the favorable resolution of various tax positions pertaining to prior years. Earnings from Discontinued Operations, net of tax, in the first six months of 2014 reflects the recognition of $42 million of net tax benefits primarily as a result of the resolution of various tax positions related to AbbVie’s operations for years prior to the separation. The conclusion of these tax matters decreased the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $134 million. As a result of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 signed into law in January 2013, Abbott recorded a tax benefit to taxes on continuing operations of approximately $103 million in the first six months of 2013 for the retroactive extension of the research tax credit and the look-through rules of section 954(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code to the beginning of 2012. Tax authorities in various jurisdictions regularly review Abbott’s income tax filings. Abbott believes that it is reasonably possible that the recorded amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $350 million, including cash adjustments, within the next twelve months as a result of concluding various domestic and international tax matters.

Taxes on Earnings

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Note 12 — Taxes on Earnings

Taxes on earnings from continuing operations reflect the estimated annual effective rates and include charges for interest and penalties. In the first six months of 2014, taxes on earnings from continuing operations reflect the recognition of $58 million of net tax benefits as the result of the favorable resolution of various tax positions pertaining to prior years. Earnings from Discontinued Operations, net of tax, in the first six months of 2014 reflects the recognition of $42 million of net tax benefits primarily as a result of the resolution of various tax positions related to AbbVie’s operations for years prior to the separation. The conclusion of these tax matters decreased the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $134 million. As a result of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 signed into law in January 2013, Abbott recorded a tax benefit to taxes on continuing operations of approximately $103 million in the first six months of 2013 for the retroactive extension of the research tax credit and the look-through rules of section 954(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code to the beginning of 2012.

Tax authorities in various jurisdictions regularly review Abbott’s income tax filings. Abbott believes that it is reasonably possible that the recorded amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $350 million, including cash adjustments, within the next twelve months as a result of concluding various domestic and international tax matters.