v3.8.0.1
Income Taxes (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
The following schedule discloses significant components of income tax expense (benefit) for each year presented:
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Current tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
 
$
(47
)
 
$
31

 
$
738

State and local
 
11

 
9

 
3

Foreign
 
594

 
595

 
622

Total current tax expense (benefit)
 
558

 
635

 
1,363

Deferred tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S.
 
(2,552
)
 
132

 
585

State and local
 
0

 
5

 
4

Foreign
 
556

 
563

 
120

Total deferred tax expense (benefit)
 
(1,996
)
 
700

 
709

Total income tax expense (benefit) on income (loss) before equity in earnings of operating joint ventures
 
(1,438
)
 
1,335

 
2,072

Income tax expense (benefit) on equity in earnings of operating joint ventures
 
33

 
11

 
(1
)
Income tax expense (benefit) on discontinued operations
 
0

 
0

 
0

Income tax expense (benefit) reported in equity related to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income
 
784

 
1,305

 
(2,213
)
Stock-based compensation programs
 
(2
)
 
(30
)
 
(22
)
Total income taxes
 
$
(623
)
 
$
2,621

 
$
(164
)
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation
The differences between income taxes expected at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35% and the reported income tax expense (benefit) are summarized as follows:
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit)
 
$
2,270

 
$
1,997

 
$
2,719

Non-taxable investment income
 
(369
)
 
(352
)
 
(341
)
Foreign taxes at other than U.S. rate
 
(249
)
 
(172
)
 
(51
)
Low-income housing and other tax credits
 
(126
)
 
(118
)
 
(116
)
Changes in tax law
 
(2,858
)
 
0

 
(108
)
Other
 
(106
)
 
(20
)
 
(31
)
Reported income tax expense (benefit)
 
$
(1,438
)
 
$
1,335

 
$
2,072

Effective tax rate
 
(22.2
)%
 
23.4
%
 
26.7
%
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
 
Insurance reserves
 
$
821

 
$
1,856

Policyholders’ dividends
 
1,262

 
1,849

Net operating and capital loss carryforwards
 
281

 
190

Employee benefits
 
635

 
789

Investments
 
862

 
1,166

Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
 
3,861

 
5,850

Valuation allowance
 
(214
)
 
(163
)
Deferred tax assets after valuation allowance
 
3,647

 
5,687

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Net unrealized investment gains
 
9,062

 
10,551

Deferred policy acquisition costs
 
3,625

 
4,443

Unremitted foreign earnings
 
119

 
380

Value of business acquired
 
414

 
715

Other
 
41

 
393

Deferred tax liabilities
 
13,261

 
16,482

Net deferred tax liability
 
$
(9,614
)
 
$
(10,795
)
Valuation Allowance For State Local And Foreign Deferred Tax Assets
The valuation allowance includes amounts recorded in connection with deferred tax assets as follows:
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Valuation allowance related to state and local deferred tax assets
 
$
196

 
$
138

Valuation allowance related to foreign operations deferred tax assets
 
18

 
25

Total valuation allowance
 
$
214

 
$
163

Operating And Capital Loss Carryforwards
The following table sets forth the amount and expiration dates of federal, state and foreign operating losses, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards for tax purposes, as of the periods indicated:
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Federal net operating and capital loss carryforwards
 
$
0

 
$
0

State net operating and capital loss carryforwards(1)
 
$
5,806

 
$
4,201

Foreign operating loss carryforwards(2)
 
$
58

 
$
45

Alternative minimum tax credits(3)
 
$
0

 
$
66

__________
(1)
Expires between 2018 and 2037.
(2)
$16 million expires between 2020 and 2035 and $42 million has an unlimited carryforward.
(3)
Effective in 2018, the alternative minimum tax is repealed for corporations.
Undistributed Earnings Of Foreign Subsidiaries Assuming Permanent Reinvestment
The following table sets forth the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries, where the Company assumes indefinite reinvestment of such earnings and for which, in 2017, 2016, and 2015, U.S. deferred taxes have not been provided, and for which, in 2017, foreign deferred withholding taxes have not been provided. The net tax liability that may arise if the 2017 earnings were remitted can range from $0 to $302 million. The actual amount of this tax liability is dependent upon the resolution of uncertainty created by the Tax Act of 2017 in determining the amount of such withholding taxes that would be creditable against the Company's U.S. income tax liability.

 
 
At December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries (assuming indefinite reinvestment for all tax purposes)(1)
 
N/A

 
$
4,231

 
$
3,215

Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries (assuming indefinite reinvestment only for Withholding Taxes)
 
$
2,603

 
N/A

 
N/A


 __________
(1)
Consistent with the Tax Act of 2017, the Company provides U.S. income tax for all unremitted earnings of the Company’s foreign affiliates as of December 31, 2017.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reconciliation
The following table reconciles the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning and end of the periods indicated.
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Balance at January 1,
 
$
26

 
$
6

 
$
6

Increases in unrecognized tax benefits—prior years
 
11

 
10

 
0

(Decreases) in unrecognized tax benefits—prior years
 
(5
)
 
0

 
0

Increases in unrecognized tax benefits—current year
 
14

 
10

 
0

(Decreases) in unrecognized tax benefits—current year
 
0

 
0

 
0

Settlements with taxing authorities
 
(1
)
 
0

 
0

Balance at December 31,
 
$
45

 
$
26

 
$
6

Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably impact the effective rate
 
$
45

 
$
26

 
$
6

Amounts Recognized In Consolidated Financial Statements For Tax Related Interest And Penalties
The amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements for tax-related interest and penalties for the years ended December 31 are as follows:
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Interest and penalties recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
$
(3
)
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
Interest and penalties recognized in liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
 
$
1

 
$
5

Open Tax Years By Major Tax Jurisdictions
Listed below are the tax years that remain subject to examination, by major tax jurisdiction, as of December 31, 2017:
 
Major Tax Jurisdiction
  
Open Tax Years
United States
  
2014-2016
Japan
  
Fiscal years ended March 31, 2013-2017
Korea
  
Fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, the periods ended December 31, 2013-2016