XML 99 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized would impact effective tax rate | $ 109,000,000 |  | $ 207,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 109,000,000 | $ 207,000,000 |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized would affect deferred taxes | 49,000,000 |  | 51,000,000 |  |  |  | 49,000,000 | 51,000,000 |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits | 158,000,000 |  | 258,000,000 |  | $ 227,000,000 |  | 158,000,000 | 258,000,000 | $ 227,000,000 | $ 262,000,000
Tax (benefit) provision recorded | (24,000,000) | $ (41,000,000) | (5,000,000) |  | 25,000,000 |  | 59,000,000 | 14,000,000 | 39,000,000 |
Accrued interest and penalties | 14,000,000 |  | 57,000,000 |  |  |  | 14,000,000 | 57,000,000 |  |
Interest (income) expense associated with uncertain tax position |  |  |  |  |  |  | (36,000,000) | 14,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
Potential decrease in liability for uncertain tax positions | 6,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,000,000 |  |  |
Changes to Mondelēz and PMI tax-related receivables/payables |  |  |  |  |  |  | (41,000,000) | (2,000,000) | (22,000,000) |
Valuation allowances | (260,000,000) |  | (211,000,000) |  |  |  | (260,000,000) | (211,000,000) |  |
Altria Group, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized would impact effective tax rate |  |  | 177,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 177,000,000 |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits | 158,000,000 |  | 228,000,000 |  |  |  | 158,000,000 | 228,000,000 |  |
PMI [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits if recognized would impact effective tax rate |  |  | 30,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 30,000,000 |  |
Accruals no longer required [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax (benefit) provision recorded |  |  |  | $ 19,000,000 | $ 14,000,000 | $ 25,000,000 |  |  |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net operating losses carry forward | 610,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 610,000,000 |  |  |
Tax credit carryforwards | 57,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 57,000,000 |  |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date for carry forward losses |  |  |  |  |  |  | Dec. 31, 2016 |  |  |
Expiration date for tax credit carryforwards |  |  |  |  |  |  | Dec. 31, 2016 |  |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Latest Tax Year [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date for carry forward losses |  |  |  |  |  |  | Dec. 31, 2035 |  |  |
Expiration date for tax credit carryforwards |  |  |  |  |  |  | Dec. 31, 2017 |  |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax credit carryforwards | 301,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 301,000,000 |  |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date for tax credit carryforwards |  |  |  |  |  |  | Dec. 31, 2020 |  |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Latest Tax Year [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Expiration date for tax credit carryforwards |  |  |  |  |  |  | Dec. 31, 2025 |  |  |
PMI [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits | 0 |  | 30,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 0 | 30,000,000 |  |
Accrued interest and penalties |  |  | $ 7,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 7,000,000 |  |
Mondelez [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax (benefit) provision recorded |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,000,000 |  |
Mondelez and PMI [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |
Tax (benefit) provision recorded |  |  |  |  |  |  | 41,000,000 |  | 22,000,000 |
Impact on earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |

X
- Definition Impact on Net Earnings + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_ImpactonNetEarnings
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Income Taxes [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_IncomeTaxesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Other Operating Expense (Income), Tax Sharing Agreement + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_OtherOperatingExpenseIncomeTaxSharingAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Deferred Tax Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mo_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsthatWouldImpactDeferredTaxRate
Namespace Prefix: | mo_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of decrease reasonably possible in the next twelve months for the unrecognized tax benefit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (d)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DecreaseInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossible
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Expiration date of each operating loss carryforward included in operating loss carryforward, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) to previously recorded tax expense. Includes, but is not limited to, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including tax assessment reversal, and IRS tax settlement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51675352&loc=d3e28446-109314 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51675352&loc=d3e28511-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of the tax credit carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Carryforwards -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506874 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Expiration date of the tax credit carryforward, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of expense for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=mo_PhilipMorrisInternationalIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=mo_AccrualsnolongerrequiredMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=us-gaap_EarliestTaxYearMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=us-gaap_LatestTaxYearMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=mo_PhilipMorrisInternationalIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=mo_MondelezInternationalInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=mo_MondelezInternationalInc.andPhilipMorrisInternationalInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |