v3.25.4
INCOME TAXES (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Components of (Losses) Earnings Before Income Taxes
The components of our earnings before income taxes for the last three fiscal years consisted of:
(in millions)202520242023
U.S.$2,021 $1,717 $2,113 
Non-U.S.1,373 1,434 1,265 
$3,394 $3,151 $3,378 
Schedule of Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
Our (provision) benefit for income taxes for the last three fiscal years consisted of:
(in millions)
202520242023
Current-U.S. Federal$(409)$(447)$(431)
-U.S. State(70)(124)(158)
-Non-U.S.(252)(282)(249)
(731)(853)(838)
Deferred-U.S. Federal125 94 
-U.S. State19 16 
-Non-U.S.(74)(67)433 
(62)77 543 
$(793)$(776)$(295)
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reconciliation
The following table reconciles our unrecognized tax benefit balance for each year from the beginning of 2023 to the end of 2025:
(in millions)Amount
Unrecognized tax benefit at beginning of 2023
$255 
Change attributable to tax positions taken in prior years(90)
Change attributable to tax positions taken during the current period16 
Decrease attributable to settlements with taxing authorities(9)
Unrecognized tax benefit at year-end 2023
172 
Change attributable to tax positions taken in prior years(4)
Change attributable to tax positions taken during the current period17 
Decrease attributable to settlements with taxing authorities(2)
Unrecognized tax benefit at year-end 2024
183 
Change attributable to tax positions taken in prior years
Change attributable to tax positions taken during the current period16 
Decrease attributable to lapse of statute of limitations(106)
Unrecognized tax benefit at year-end 2025
$94 
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
The following table presents the tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carry-forward that gave rise to significant portions of our deferred tax assets and liabilities as of year-end 2025 and year-end 2024:
(in millions)At Year-End 2025At Year-End 2024
Deferred Tax Assets
Employee benefits$289 $302 
Net operating loss carry-forwards982 1,046 
Accrued expenses and other reserves134 153 
Tax credits64 62 
Loyalty Program343 313 
Deferred income114 114 
Lease liabilities255 239 
Interest limitation106 123 
Property and equipment29 15 
Other47 36 
Deferred tax assets2,363 2,403 
Valuation allowance(1,011)(1,070)
Deferred tax assets after valuation allowance1,352 1,333 
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Intangibles(584)(477)
Right-of-use assets(245)(223)
Other(32)(64)
Deferred tax liabilities(861)(764)
Net deferred taxes$491 $569 
Schedule of Reconciliation of the U.S. Statutory Tax Rate to Effective Income Tax Rate
The following table reconciles the U.S. statutory tax rate to our effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2025, as required by ASU 2023-09 (see “New Accounting Standards Adopted” caption in Note 2 for more information):
2025
($ in millions)
AmountPercent
U.S. statutory tax rate$713 21.0 %
Federal
Effect of cross-border tax laws
Foreign Tax Credits(41)(1.2)
Other17 0.5 
Other(24)(0.7)
State and local income tax, net of federal tax benefit (1)
95 2.8 
Non-U.S. tax effects
Canada
Effect of cross-border tax laws
37 1.1 
Luxembourg
Changes in valuation allowance
(56)(1.6)
Nontaxable or nondeductible items
76 2.2 
Other Non-U.S. jurisdictions
105 3.1 
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits(129)(3.8)
Effective rate$793 23.4 %
(1) State and local taxes in California, Maryland, and New York make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the tax in this category.
The following table reconciles the U.S. statutory tax rate to our effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, prior to the adoption of ASU 2023-09:
20242023
U.S. statutory tax rate21.0 %21.0 %
U.S. state income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit2.4 2.8 
Non-U.S. income 1.6 0.3 
Change in valuation allowance(0.9)(5.8)
Change in uncertain tax positions0.4 (2.3)
Excess tax benefits related to equity awards(1.0)(0.8)
U.S. tax on foreign earnings1.0 1.1 
Intellectual property restructuring
0.0 (7.9)
Other, net0.1 0.3 
Effective rate24.6 %8.7 %
Schedule of Income Taxes Paid (Net of Refunds Received)
The following table presents income taxes paid (net of refunds received) for the year ended December 31, 2025, as required by ASU 2023-09:
(in millions)
2025
U.S. Federal
$496 
U.S. State
156 
Non-U.S.
Switzerland
126 
Other jurisdictions
292 
Total cash paid$1,070