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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes Income Taxes
The source of pre-tax income and the components of income tax expense are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
(in millions)202220212020
Income (loss) components:
Domestic$90 $45 $(33)
Foreign350 466 318 
Total pre-tax income$440 $511 $285 
Income tax expense components:
Current:
Domestic – federal$77 $16 $24 
Domestic – state and local16 5 5 
Foreign56 53 33 
Total Current149 74 62 
Deferred:
Domestic – federal$(43)$(2)$(21)
Domestic – state and local(12)— (8)
Foreign(9)12 (2)
Total Deferred(64)10 (31)
Total income tax provision$85 $84 $31 
Effective income tax rate19.2 %16.3 %10.9 %
Reconciliations between taxes at the U.S. federal income tax rate and taxes at our effective income tax rate on earnings before income taxes are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
202220212020
Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
Increase (decrease) in tax rate resulting from:
State income taxes1.2 0.8 0.7 
Uncertain tax positions(1.2)(0.1)(3.9)
U.S. foreign derived intangible income tax benefit(1.3)(0.6)(1.0)
Net interest deductions(1.8)(2.4)(4.5)
Tax on Distribution of Foreign Earnings1.4 (0.2)(0.2)
U.S. tax on foreign earnings2.7 2.2 5.3 
Tax incentives(4.4)(5.5)(7.4)
Rate change(0.6)0.9 (1.3)
Goodwill impairment— — 2.9 
Federal R&D tax credit(0.7)(0.7)(1.3)
Stock compensation0.1 (0.6)(2.4)
Other—net2.8 1.5 3.0 
Effective income tax rate19.2 %16.3 %10.9 %
Items in the prior year table of rate reconciliation above have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Income, Comprehensive Income, Stockholders’ Equity, or Cash Flow.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, applying enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which we expect the differences will reverse.
The following is a summary of the components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
December 31,
(in millions)20222021
Deferred tax assets:
Employee benefits$58 $111 
Accrued expenses36 35 
Loss and other tax credit carryforwards245 250 
R&D capitalization32 — 
Inventory5 6 
Lease Liabilities68 70 
Other7 8 
451 480 
Valuation allowance(204)(201)
Net deferred tax asset$247 $279 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangibles$155 $155 
Investment in foreign subsidiaries5 4 
Property, plant and equipment65 77 
Lease right-of-use assets67 69 
Hedging Instruments20 — 
Other11 35 
Total deferred tax liabilities$323 $340 
Management assesses all available positive and negative evidence, including prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, and estimates if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to realize existing deferred tax assets. On the basis of this evaluation, as of December 31, 2022, a valuation allowance of $204 million has been established to reduce the deferred income tax asset related to certain U.S. and foreign net operating losses and U.S. and foreign capital loss carryforwards.
A reconciliation of the change in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets is as follows:
(in millions)202220212020
Valuation allowance — January 1$201 $217 $191 
Change in assessment (a)
1 — 1 
Current year operations3 4 4 
Other comprehensive income— (4)3 
Foreign currency and other (b)
(1)(16)18 
Valuation allowance — December 31$204 $201 $217 
(a)    Increase in assessment in 2022 is primarily attributable to loss positions in various jurisdictions.
(b) Decrease in assessment in 2021 is primarily attributable to foreign exchange movement impacting foreign balances. Increase in assessment in 2020 is primarily attributable to loss positions in various jurisdictions and foreign exchange movement impacting foreign balances.
Deferred taxes are classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:
December 31,
(in millions)20222021
Non-current assets$146 $226 
Non-current liabilities(222)(287)
Total net deferred tax liabilities$(76)$(61)
Tax attributes available to reduce future taxable income begin to expire as follows:
(in millions)December 31, 2022First Year of Expiration
U.S. net operating loss$5 December 31, 2025
State net operating loss97 December 31, 2024
State excess interest expense19 Indefinite
State tax credits1 Indefinite
Foreign net operating loss992 December 31, 2023
Foreign tax credits4 December 31, 2030
As of December 31, 2022, the Company has provided a deferred tax liability of $5 million for net foreign withholding taxes and state income taxes on $467 million of foreign earnings expected to be repatriated to the U.S. parent. The Company currently does not intend to repatriate approximately $1.5 billion of foreign earnings. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of deferred taxes that would be recorded if such foreign earnings were repatriated by the U.S. parent.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
We recognize tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities or upon the completion of the litigation process, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such positions are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
(in millions)202220212020
Unrecognized tax benefits — January 1$111 $114 $129 
Gross Increases - Current year tax positions— — — 
Gross Increases - Prior year tax positions3 — — 
Gross Decreases - Prior year tax positions(8)(1)(3)
Settlements(1)— (12)
Lapse of Statute of Limitations(2)(1)— 
Currency Translation Adjustment(1)(1)— 
Unrecognized tax benefits — December 31$102 $111 $114 
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2022 which, if ultimately recognized, will reduce our effective tax rate is $102 million. Changes in tax laws, regulations, administrative practices, principles, and interpretations may impact our unrecognized tax benefits. The timing of the resolution of income tax controversies is highly uncertain, and the amounts ultimately paid, if any, upon resolution of the issues raised by the taxing authorities may differ from the amounts accrued. It is reasonably possible that within the next twelve months we will receive additional assessments by various tax authorities or possibly reach resolution of income tax controversies in one or more jurisdictions. These assessments or settlements could result in changes to our unrecognized tax benefits related to positions on prior years’ tax filings. The actual amount of any change could vary significantly depending on the ultimate timing and nature of any settlements. We cannot currently provide an estimate of the range of possible outcomes.
We classify interest relating to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of other non-operating (expense) income, net and tax penalties as a component of income tax expense in our Consolidated Income Statements. The amount of accrued interest relating to unrecognized tax benefits was $9 million for both December 31, 2022 and 2021.
During 2019, Xylem’s Swedish subsidiary received a tax assessment for the 2013 tax year related to the tax treatment of an intercompany transfer of certain intellectual property that was made in connection with a reorganization of our European businesses. Xylem filed an appeal with the Administrative Court of Vaxjo, which rendered a decision adverse to Xylem in June 2022 for SEK794 million (approximately $76 million USD), consisting of the full tax assessment amount plus penalties and interest. Xylem has appealed this decision with the intermediate appellate court, the Administrative Court of Appeal (the “Court”). At this time, management, in consultation with external legal advisors, continues to believe it is more likely than not that Xylem will prevail on the proposed assessment and will continue to vigorously defend our position through the appellate process. The appeal to the Court is expected to take approximately one year; however, there can be no assurance as to the timing of the Court’s decision. Both parties will have the ability to seek appeal of the Court’s decision to the Supreme Administrative Court of Sweden. There can be no assurance that the final determination by the authorities will not be materially different than our position. As of December 31, 2022, we have not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits related to this uncertain tax position.

The following table summarizes our earliest open tax years by major jurisdiction:
JurisdictionEarliest Open Year
Italy2016
Luxembourg2017
Sweden2013
Germany2016
United Kingdom2015
United States2017
Switzerland2019