v2.4.1.9
Taxes (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Components of Income before (Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes

The components of income before (provision) benefit for income taxes are as follows:

 

     (dollars in millions)  
Years Ended December 31,    2014      2013      2012  

Domestic

   $ 12,992       $ 28,833       $ 9,316   

Foreign

     2,278         444         581   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $   15,270       $   29,277       $   9,897   
  

 

 

 
Components of Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows:

 

     (dollars in millions)  
Years Ended December 31,    2014     2013     2012  

Current

      

Federal

   $ 2,657      $ (197   $    223   

Foreign

     81        (59     (45

State and Local

     668        201        114   
  

 

 

 

Total

     3,406        (55     292   
  

 

 

 

Deferred

      

Federal

     (51     5,060        (559

Foreign

     (9     8        10   

State and Local

     (32     717        (403
  

 

 

 

Total

     (92     5,785        (952
  

 

 

 

Total income tax provision (benefit)

   $   3,314      $   5,730      $ (660
  

 

 

 
Schedule for Principal Reasons for Difference in Effective and Statutory Tax Rates

The following table shows the principal reasons for the difference between the effective income tax rate and the statutory federal income tax rate:

 

Years Ended December 31,    2014     2013     2012  

Statutory federal income tax rate

     35.0     35.0     35.0

State and local income tax rate, net of federal tax benefits

     2.7        2.1        (1.9

Affordable housing credit

     (1.0     (0.6     (1.9

Employee benefits including ESOP dividend

     (0.7     (0.4     (1.1

Disposition of Omnitel Interest

     (5.9              

Noncontrolling interests

     (5.0     (14.3     (33.7

Other, net

     (3.4     (2.2     (3.1
  

 

 

 

Effective income tax rate

     21.7     19.6     (6.7 )% 
  

 

 

 
Schedule of Cash Taxes Paid

The amounts of cash taxes paid are as follows:

 

     (dollars in millions)  
Years Ended December 31,    2014      2013      2012  

Income taxes, net of amounts refunded

   $ 4,093       $ 422       $ 351   

Employment taxes

     1,290         1,282         1,308   

Property and other taxes

     1,797         2,082         1,727   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $   7,180       $   3,786       $   3,386   
  

 

 

 
Schedule of Deferred Taxes

Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

     (dollars in millions)  
At December 31,    2014     2013  

Employee benefits

   $ 13,350      $ 10,413   

Tax loss and credit carry forwards

     2,255        2,912   

Other – assets

     2,247        1,783   
  

 

 

 
     17,852        15,108   

Valuation allowances

     (1,841     (1,685
  

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets

     16,011        13,423   
  

 

 

 

Spectrum and other intangible amortization

     28,283        18,280   

Depreciation

     23,423        18,913   

Other – liabilities

     5,754        4,315   
  

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

     57,460        41,508   
  

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liability

   $   41,449      $   28,085   
  

 

 

 
Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Balance of Unrecognized Tax Benefits

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

     (dollars in millions)  
      2014     2013     2012  

Balance at January 1,

   $ 2,130      $ 2,943      $ 3,078   

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     80        116        131   

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     627        250        92   

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     (278     (801     (415

Settlements

     (239     (210     100   

Lapses of statutes of limitations

     (497     (168     (43
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31,

   $   1,823      $   2,130      $   2,943   
  

 

 

 
Schedule of After Tax Benefits Related to Interest and Penalties in Provision for Income Taxes

We recognized the following net after-tax benefits related to interest and penalties in the provision for income taxes:

 

Years Ended December 31,    (dollars in millions)  

2014

   $ 92   

2013

     33   

2012

     82   
Schedule of After Tax Accrual for Payment of Interest and Penalties in Consolidated Balance Sheet

The after-tax accruals for the payment of interest and penalties in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows:

 

At December 31,    (dollars in millions)  

2014

   $ 169   

2013

     274