v3.10.0.1
Income Taxes (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Income Taxes [Line Items]  
Schedule for the components of income tax expense
Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended December 31 (in millions)
2018

 
2017

 
2016

Current Expense (Benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
2,026

 
$
2,411

 
$
3,190

State
639

 
277

 
480

Foreign
425

 
389

 
194

 
3,090

 
3,077

 
3,864

Deferred Expense (Benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
546

 
(10,651
)
 
1,183

State
(167
)
 
11

 
153

Foreign
(89
)
 
(6
)
 
98

 
290

 
(10,646
)
 
1,434

Income tax expense (benefit)
$
3,380

 
$
(7,569
)
 
$
5,298

Schedule of items that effect income tax expense
Our income tax expense (benefit) differs from the federal statutory amount because of the effect of the items detailed in the table below. 
Year ended December 31 (in millions)
2018

 
2017

 
2016

Federal tax at statutory rate
$
3,201

 
$
5,374

 
$
5,014

State income taxes, net of federal benefit
212

 
299

 
373

Foreign income taxed at different rates
147

 
70

 
65

Nontaxable income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(20
)
 
(45
)
 
(128
)
Adjustments to uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net
144

 
(62
)
 
24

Accrued interest on uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net
29

 
3

 
17

Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation
(75
)
 
(297
)
 

Federal tax legislation
(120
)
 
(12,682
)
 

Other
(138
)
 
(229
)
 
(67
)
Income tax expense (benefit)
$
3,380

 
$
(7,569
)
 
$
5,298

Schedule of the components of net deferred tax liability
Components of Net Deferred Tax Liability
 
 
 
December 31 (in millions)
2018

 
2017

Deferred Tax Assets:
 
 
 
Net operating loss carryforwards
$
1,926

 
$
481

Nondeductible accruals and other
2,656

 
2,092

Less: Valuation allowance
632

 
377

 
3,950

 
2,196

Deferred Tax Liabilities:
 
 
 
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment and intangible assets
29,139

 
25,223

Differences between book and tax basis of investments
491

 
466

Differences between book and tax basis of long-term debt
604

 
673

Differences between book and tax basis of foreign subsidiaries and undistributed foreign earnings
85

 
39


30,319

 
26,401

Net deferred tax liability
$
26,369

 
$
24,205

Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
2018

 
2017

 
2016

Gross unrecognized tax benefits, January 1
$
1,497

 
$
1,443

 
$
1,441

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
229

 
121

 
74

Additions based on tax positions related to prior years
125

 
319

 
72

Additions from acquired subsidiaries
130

 

 
13

Reductions for tax positions of prior years
(346
)
 
(251
)
 
(66
)
Reductions due to expiration of statutes of limitations
(75
)
 
(70
)
 
(44
)
Settlements with tax authorities
(17
)
 
(65
)
 
(47
)
Gross unrecognized tax benefits, December 31
1,543

 
1,497

 
1,443

Positions paid
(531
)
 
(688
)
 
(340
)
Liability for uncertain tax positions
$
1,012

 
$
809

 
$
1,103


NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]  
Income Taxes [Line Items]  
Schedule for the components of income tax expense
Components of Income Tax Expense
 
 
 
Year ended December 31 (in millions)
2018

2017

2016

Foreign
 
 
 
Current income tax expense
$
230

$
201

$
38

Deferred income tax expense
(31
)
(7
)
96

Withholding tax expense
163

187

158

U.S. domestic tax expense
(11
)
11

13

Income tax expense
$
351

$
392

$
305