v3.25.3
Income Taxes (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Income Before Taxes by Fiscal Year
The Company’s income before income taxes by fiscal year consisted of the following:
For the Years Ended
September 30,
202520242023
 (in millions)
U.S.$14,776 $14,537 $13,339 
Non-U.S.9,418 9,379 7,698 
Total income before income taxes
$24,194 $23,916 $21,037 
Schedule of Income Tax Expense by Fiscal Year
Income tax provision by fiscal year consisted of the following:
For the Years Ended
September 30,
202520242023
 (in millions)
Current:
U.S. federal$1,879 $2,694 $2,630 
State and local251 298 293 
Non-U.S.1,854 1,281 1,324 
Total current taxes3,984 4,273 4,247 
Deferred:
U.S. federal102 (132)(339)
State and local9 (18)(1)
Non-U.S.41 50 (143)
Total deferred taxes152 (100)(483)
Total income tax provision$4,136 $4,173 $3,764 
Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
The following table presents the components of deferred tax assets and liabilities:
September 30,
20252024
 (in millions)
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued compensation and benefits$250 $221 
Accrued litigation
690 374 
Client incentives288 855 
Net operating loss carryforwards258 206 
Comprehensive loss206 79 
Federal benefit of state taxes74 16 
Other26 102 
Valuation allowance(264)(212)
Total deferred tax assets
1,528 1,641 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, equipment and technology, net(296)(295)
Intangible assets(6,532)(6,404)
Unrealized gains on equity securities(71)(81)
Foreign taxes(50)(22)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(6,949)(6,802)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(5,421)$(5,161)
Schedule of Reconciliation of the US Statutory Federal Tax Rate
The following table presents a reconciliation of the income tax provision to the amount of income tax determined by applying the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to income before income taxes:
 
For the Years Ended
September 30,
 202520242023
 (in millions, except percentages)
U.S. federal income tax at statutory rate$5,081 21%$5,022 21%$4,418 21%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit244 1%258 1%245 1%
Non-U.S. tax effect, net of federal benefit(775)(3%)(828)(4%)(758)(3%)
Reassessment of an uncertain tax position— —%— —%(142)(1%)
Conclusion of audits— —%(223)(1%)— —%
Tax position taken on certain expenses
(263)(1%)— —%— —%
Other, net(151)(1%)(56)—%1 —%
Income tax provision$4,136 17%$4,173 17%$3,764 18%
Schedule of Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Unrecognized Tax Benefits by Fiscal Year
The following table presents a reconciliation of beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefits by fiscal year: 
202520242023
 (in millions)
Balance as of beginning of period
$3,750 $3,497 $2,683 
Increase related to prior years
281 148 515 
Decrease related to prior years
(2,455)(322)(190)
Increase related to current year
150 556 510 
Decrease related to settlements with taxing authorities
(49)(127)(17)
Decrease related to lapsing statute of limitations
(5)(2)(4)
Balance as of end of period
$1,672 $3,750 $3,497