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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
During the first quarters of 2018 and 2017, income tax expense related to continuing operations was $95 million and $239 million and included net discrete tax expense of $3 million and net discrete tax benefit of $35 million. Our discrete tax benefits for the first quarter of 2017 included $37 million related to the adoption of the amended accounting guidance on employee share-based compensation. Our reported income tax rates for the first quarters of 2018 and 2017 were 20.7% and 26.2%. Fluctuations in our reported income tax rates are primarily due to changes within our business mix, including varying proportions of income attributable to foreign countries that have lower income tax rates, discrete items and the impact of the intercompany sale of software.
As of June 30, 2017, we had $516 million of unrecognized tax benefits, of which $371 million would reduce income tax expense and the effective tax rate, if recognized. During the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that audit resolutions could potentially reduce our unrecognized tax benefits by up to $60 million. However, this amount may change as we continue to have ongoing negotiations with various taxing authorities throughout the year.
We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various U.S. state jurisdictions and various foreign jurisdictions. During the first quarter of 2017, we reached an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) to settle all outstanding issues relating to the fiscal years 2007 through 2009. This settlement did not have a material impact on our provision for income taxes. We are subject to audit by the IRS for fiscal years 2010 through the current fiscal year. We are generally subject to audit by taxing authorities in various U.S. states and in foreign jurisdictions for fiscal years 2006 through the current fiscal year.