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Income Taxes
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Note 5 Income Taxes
TDS’ current income taxes balances at December 31, 2022 and 2021, were as follows:
December 31,20222021
(Dollars in millions)  
Federal income taxes receivable$56 $179 
Net state income taxes receivable3 5 
Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows:
Year Ended December 31,202220212020
(Dollars in millions)   
Current   
Federal$1 $2 $(175)
State5 (21)4 
Deferred
Federal32 59 179 
State15 (7)11 
Total income tax expense (benefit)$53 $33 $19 
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 31,202220212020
 AmountRateAmountRateAmountRate
(Dollars in millions)      
Statutory federal income tax expense and rate$26 21.0 %$47 21.0 %$60 21.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit1
16 12.8 (23)(10.3)11 4.0 
Change in federal valuation allowance2
7 5.7 7 3.1 — — 
Loss carryback benefit of CARES Act3
— — — — (60)(21.0)
Nondeductible compensation7 5.6 6 2.9 9 3.0 
Tax credits(2)(1.9)(2)(0.8)(2)(0.6)
Other differences, net(1)(0.6)(2)(0.8)1 — 
Total income tax expense (benefit) and rate$53 42.6 %$33 15.1 %$19 6.4 %
1State income taxes, net of federal benefit, include changes in unrecognized tax benefits as well as adjustments to state valuation allowances. State taxes increased in 2022 due primarily to valuation allowance adjustments. 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 current year interest expense from partnership investments that carryforward but may not be realized.
3The CARES Act provided 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 provided a tax benefit in excess of the current federal statutory rate of 21%.
Significant components of TDS’ deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2022 and 2021, were as follows:
December 31,2022
20211
(Dollars in millions)  
Deferred tax assets  
Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards$250 $226 
Lease liabilities265 277 
Contract liabilities63 38 
Interest expense carryforwards74 31 
Asset retirement obligation116 101 
Other129 122 
Total deferred tax assets897 795 
Less valuation allowance(177)(149)
Net deferred tax assets720 646 
Deferred tax liabilities
Property, plant and equipment805 751 
Licenses/intangibles419 364 
Partnership investments173 155 
Lease assets245 255 
Other43 40 
Total deferred tax liabilities1,685 1,565 
Net deferred income tax liability$965 $919 
Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as:
Deferred income tax liability, net$969 $921 
Other assets and deferred charges(4)(2)
Net deferred income tax liability$965 $919 
1    Certain prior year deferred tax assets and liabilities have been reclassified to align with the current year presentation.
At December 31, 2022, TDS and certain subsidiaries had $3,508 million of state NOL carryforwards (generating a $177 million deferred tax asset) available to offset future taxable income. The state NOL carryforwards expire between 2023 and 2042. TDS and certain subsidiaries had $344 million of federal NOL carryforwards (generating a $72 million deferred tax asset) available to offset future taxable income. The federal NOL carryforwards generally expire between 2023 and 2037, with the exception of federal NOLs generated after 2017, which do not expire. A valuation allowance was established for certain federal and state NOL carryforwards since it is more likely than not that a portion of such carryforwards will expire before they can be utilized. 
At December 31, 2022, TDS and certain subsidiaries had $384 million of state interest limitation carryforwards (generating a $16 million deferred tax asset) available to offset future taxable income. The state interest limitation carryforwards generally do not expire. TDS and certain subsidiaries had $277 million of federal interest limitation carryforwards (generating a $58 million deferred tax asset) available to offset future taxable income. The federal interest limitation carryforwards do not expire. A valuation allowance was established for certain federal and state interest limitation carryforwards since it is more likely than not that a portion of such carryforwards will not be utilized.
A summary of TDS' deferred tax asset valuation allowance is as follows:
 202220212020
(Dollars in millions)   
Balance at beginning of year$149 $158 $152 
Charged to Income tax expense28 (9)6 
Balance at end of year$177 $149 $158 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
 202220212020
(Dollars in millions)   
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at beginning of year$37 $54 $49 
Additions for tax positions of current year6 8 8 
Additions for tax positions of prior years1 — 3 
Reductions for tax positions of prior years— (3)(1)
Reductions for settlements of tax positions— (2)— 
Reductions for lapses in statutes of limitations(6)(20)(5)
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at end of year$38 $37 $54 
Unrecognized tax benefits are included in Accrued taxes and Other deferred liabilities and credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. If these benefits were recognized at each respective year end period, they would have reduced income tax expense in 2022, 2021 and 2020 by $30 million, $30 million and $43 million, respectively, net of the federal benefit from state income taxes. 
TDS recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in Income tax expense (benefit). The amounts charged to income tax expense related to interest and penalties resulted in nominal expense in 2022, a benefit of $10 million in 2021, and an expense of $2 million in 2020. Net accrued liabilities for interest and penalties were $13 million at both December 31, 2022 and 2021, and are included in Other deferred liabilities and credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
TDS and its subsidiaries file federal and state income tax returns. With limited exceptions, TDS is no longer subject to federal and state income tax audits for the years prior to 2019.