INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	INCOME TAXES As of July 31, 2016, we continue to include a best estimate of the deferred tax liability for foreign unremitted earnings due to the Separation as zero. Excess foreign tax credits associated with unremitted earnings are not recorded as an asset as they do not represent a separate deferred asset until earnings are remitted. However, unremitted foreign taxes reduce deferred tax liabilities associated with outside basis differences related to the investment in a foreign subsidiary to the extent the credit reduces a deferred tax liability of the investment. We continue to have ongoing discussions with Agilent regarding the allocation of certain deferred tax liability balances related to foreign unremitted earnings in accordance with the Separation agreements. The company’s effective tax rate was 5.9 percent and 9.2 percent for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016, respectively. Income tax expense was $6 million and $25 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016, respectively. The company's effective tax rate was 19.0 percent and 17.7 percent for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively. Income tax expense was $17 million and $51 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively. The decrease in effective tax rate and income tax expense from the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 to the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 is primarily related to the repatriation of cash to the U.S. and the corresponding realization of foreign tax credits. The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 included a net discrete benefit of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 included a net discrete expense of $0.3 million and a net discrete benefit of $7 million, respectively. Keysight benefits from tax incentives in several jurisdictions, most significantly in Singapore, and several jurisdictions have granted us tax incentives that require renewal at various times in the future. The tax incentives provide lower rates of taxation on certain classes of income and require thresholds of investments and employment or specific types of income in those jurisdictions. The impact of tax incentives decreased the income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 by $10 million and $27 million, respectively, resulting in a benefit to net income per share (diluted) of approximately $0.06 and $0.16 for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016, respectively. The impact of tax incentives decreased the income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 by $10 million and $31 million, respectively, resulting in a benefit to net income per share (diluted) of approximately $0.06 and $0.18 for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively. The Singapore tax incentive is due for renewal in fiscal 2024. For the majority of our entities, the open tax years for the IRS, state and most foreign audit authorities are from August 1, 2014, through the current tax year. For certain historical Agilent foreign entities that Keysight retained as part of the separation, the tax years generally remain open back to the year 2006. For certain entities acquired during 2015, the tax years also remain open back to the year 2006. Given the number of years and numerous matters that remain subject to examination in various tax jurisdictions, we are unable to estimate the range of possible changes to the balance of our unrecognized tax benefits.

INCOME TAXES

As of July 31, 2016, we continue to include a best estimate of the deferred tax liability for foreign unremitted earnings due to the Separation as zero. Excess foreign tax credits associated with unremitted earnings are not recorded as an asset as they do not represent a separate deferred asset until earnings are remitted. However, unremitted foreign taxes reduce deferred tax liabilities associated with outside basis differences related to the investment in a foreign subsidiary to the extent the credit reduces a deferred tax liability of the investment. We continue to have ongoing discussions with Agilent regarding the allocation of certain deferred tax liability balances related to foreign unremitted earnings in accordance with the Separation agreements.

The company’s effective tax rate was 5.9 percent and 9.2 percent for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016, respectively. Income tax expense was $6 million and $25 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016, respectively. The company's effective tax rate was 19.0 percent and 17.7 percent for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively. Income tax expense was $17 million and $51 million for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively. The decrease in effective tax rate and income tax expense from the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 to the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 is primarily related to the repatriation of cash to the U.S. and the corresponding realization of foreign tax credits.

The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 included a net discrete benefit of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 included a net discrete expense of $0.3 million and a net discrete benefit of $7 million, respectively.

Keysight benefits from tax incentives in several jurisdictions, most significantly in Singapore, and several jurisdictions have granted us tax incentives that require renewal at various times in the future. The tax incentives provide lower rates of taxation on certain classes of income and require thresholds of investments and employment or specific types of income in those jurisdictions. The impact of tax incentives decreased the income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 by $10 million and $27 million, respectively, resulting in a benefit to net income per share (diluted) of approximately $0.06 and $0.16 for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016, respectively. The impact of tax incentives decreased the income tax provision for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 by $10 million and $31 million, respectively, resulting in a benefit to net income per share (diluted) of approximately $0.06 and $0.18 for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively. The Singapore tax incentive is due for renewal in fiscal 2024.

For the majority of our entities, the open tax years for the IRS, state and most foreign audit authorities are from August 1, 2014, through the current tax year. For certain historical Agilent foreign entities that Keysight retained as part of the separation, the tax years generally remain open back to the year 2006. For certain entities acquired during 2015, the tax years also remain open back to the year 2006. Given the number of years and numerous matters that remain subject to examination in various tax jurisdictions, we are unable to estimate the range of possible changes to the balance of our unrecognized tax benefits.