Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Income Taxes [Line Items]

Schedule for the components of income tax expense



Components of Income Tax Expense
Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2016			2015			2014
Current Expense (Benefit):
Federal	$	3,190		$	3,210		$	2,392
State	480			570			174
Foreign	194			221			142
	3,864			4,001			2,708
Deferred Expense (Benefit):
Federal	1,192			890			1,000
State	154			66			173
Foreign	98			2			(8		)
	1,444			958			1,165
Income tax expense	$	5,308		$	4,959		$	3,873

Schedule of items that effect income tax expense

Our income tax expense differs from the federal statutory amount because of the effect of the items detailed in the table below.



Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2016			2015			2014
Federal tax at statutory rate	$	5,024		$	4,680		$	4,363
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	373			326			329
Foreign income taxes, net of federal credit	65			13			—
Nontaxable income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(128		)	(69		)	(62		)
Adjustments to uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net	24			15			(408		)
Accrued interest on uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net	17			73			(235		)
Other	(67		)	(79		)	(114		)
Income tax expense	$	5,308		$	4,959		$	3,873

Schedule of the components of net deferred tax liability



Components of Net Deferred Tax Liability
December 31 (in millions)	2016			2015
Deferred Tax Assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	544		$	551
Differences between book and tax basis of investments	—			101
Nondeductible accruals and other	3,789			3,704
Less: Valuation allowance	266			342
	4,067			4,014
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment and intangible assets	37,401			36,392
Differences between book and tax basis of investments	144			—
Differences between book and tax basis of indexed debt securities	375			457
Differences between book and tax basis of foreign subsidiaries and undistributed foreign earnings	960			731
	38,880			37,580
Net deferred tax liability	$	34,813		$	33,566

Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits



Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
(in millions)	2016			2015			2014
Balance, January 1	$	1,136		$	1,171		$	1,701
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	74			67			63
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	67			98			111
Additions from acquired subsidiaries	13			—			—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(62		)	(84		)	(220		)
Reductions due to expiration of statutes of limitations	(44		)	(41		)	(448		)
Settlements with tax authorities	(81		)	(75		)	(36		)
Balance, December 31	$	1,103		$	1,136		$	1,171

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)	2016			2015			2014
Foreign
Current income tax expense	$	38		$	81		$	33
Deferred income tax expense	96			2			(8		)
Withholding tax expense	158			139			108
U.S. domestic tax expense	13			5			10
Income tax expense	$	305		$	227		$	143