XML 70 R36.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.0.1
Income Taxes (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income taxes receivable (payable)
TDS’ current income taxes balances at December 31, 2021 and 2020, were as follows:
December 31,20212020
(Dollars in millions)  
Federal income taxes receivable$179 $180 
Net state income taxes receivable5 
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows:
Year Ended December 31,202120202019
(Dollars in millions)   
Current   
Federal$2 $(175)$15 
State(21)15 
Deferred
Federal59 179 36 
State(7)11 (2)
Total income tax expense (benefit)$33 $19 $64 
Income tax reconciliation
A reconciliation of TDS’ income tax expense computed at the statutory rate to the reported income tax expense, and the statutory federal income tax rate to TDS’ effective income tax rate is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,202120202019
 AmountRateAmountRateAmountRate
(Dollars in millions)      
Statutory federal income tax expense and rate$47 21.0 %$60 21.0 %$44 21.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit1
(23)(10.3)11 4.0 12 5.5 
Change in federal valuation allowance2
7 3.1 — — 3.1 
Loss carryback benefit of CARES Act3
  (60)(21.0)— — 
Nondeductible compensation6 2.9 3.0 1.9 
Tax credits(2)(0.8)(2)(0.6)(4)(1.9)
Other differences, net(2)(0.8)— 0.7 
Total income tax expense (benefit) and rate$33 15.1 %$19 6.4 %$64 30.3 %
1State income taxes, net of federal benefit, include changes in unrecognized tax benefits as well as adjustments to state valuation allowances. State taxes in 2021 are a net benefit due primarily to the reduction of tax accruals resulting from expirations of state statute of limitations for prior tax years.
2Change in federal valuation allowance is due primarily to interest expense carryforwards from partnership investments that may not be realized.
3The CARES Act provides a 5-year carryback of net operating losses generated in years 2018-2020. As the statutory federal tax rate applicable to certain years within the carryback period is 35%, carryback to those years provides a tax benefit in excess of the current federal statutory rate of 21%.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities
Significant components of TDS’ deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2021 and 2020, were as follows:
December 31,20212020
(Dollars in millions)  
Deferred tax assets  
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards$226 $183 
Lease liabilities277 257 
Asset retirement obligation101 81 
Other157 109 
Total deferred tax assets761 630 
Less valuation allowance(149)(158)
Net deferred tax assets612 472 
Deferred tax liabilities
Property, plant and equipment751 652 
Licenses/intangibles364 287 
Partnership investments155 144 
Lease assets255 235 
Other6 17 
Total deferred tax liabilities1,531 1,335 
Net deferred income tax liability$919 $863 
Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as:
Deferred income tax liability, net$921 $863 
Other assets and deferred charges(2)— 
Net deferred income tax liability$919 $863 
Deferred tax valuation allowance
A summary of TDS' deferred tax asset valuation allowance is as follows:
 202120202019
(Dollars in millions)   
Balance at beginning of year$158 $152 $135 
Charged to Income tax expense(9)17 
Balance at end of year$149 $158 $152 
Income tax unrecognized benefits summary
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
 202120202019
(Dollars in millions)   
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at beginning of year$54 $49 $49 
Additions for tax positions of current year8 
Additions for tax positions of prior years — 
Reductions for tax positions of prior years(3)(1)(7)
Reductions for settlements of tax positions(2)— (1)
Reductions for lapses in statutes of limitations(20)(5)— 
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at end of year$37 $54 $49