v2.4.0.8
Income Taxes (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes  
Components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes

The components of our provision (benefit) for income taxes were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Current tax expense

 

$

267

 

$

183

 

$

386

 

Deferred tax benefit

 

(9

)

(133

)

(62

)

Income tax expense

 

$

258

 

$

50

 

$

324

 

Reconciliation of the differences between income tax expense computed at the Swiss holding company statutory rate and the reported provision for income taxes

The following is a reconciliation of the differences between the income tax expense for our continuing operations computed at the Swiss holding company federal statutory rate of 7.83 percent and our reported provision for income taxes (in millions):

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Income tax expense at the Swiss federal statutory rate

 

$

130

 

$

68

 

$

(426

)

Taxes on earnings subject to rates different than the Swiss federal statutory rate

 

185

 

141

 

221

 

Taxes on impairment loss subject to rates different than the Swiss federal statutory rate

 

5

 

5

 

409

 

Taxes on asset sales subject to rates different than the Swiss federal statutory rate

 

9

 

(1

)

 

Taxes on litigation matters subject to rates different than the Swiss federal statutory rate

 

(33

)

59

 

78

 

Changes in unrecognized tax benefits, net

 

(62

)

(179

)

40

 

Change in valuation allowance

 

37

 

1

 

19

 

Benefit from foreign tax credits

 

(18

)

(38

)

(28

)

Taxes on asset acquisition costs at rates lower than the Swiss federal statutory rate

 

 

 

8

 

Other, net

 

5

 

(6

)

3

 

Income tax expense

 

$

258

 

$

50

 

$

324

 

Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

The significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

369

 

$

380

 

Tax credit carryforwards

 

21

 

41

 

Accrued payroll expenses not currently deductible

 

98

 

95

 

Deferred income

 

62

 

86

 

Valuation allowance

 

(247

)

(210

)

Loss contingencies

 

36

 

 

Professional fees

 

89

 

66

 

Other

 

28

 

43

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

456

 

501

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

(650

)

(688

)

Other

 

(29

)

(37

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

(679

)

(725

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities

 

$

(223

)

$

(224

)

Valuation allowance for non-current deferred tax assets

The valuation allowance for our non-current deferred tax assets was as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Valuation allowance for non-current deferred tax assets

 

$

247

 

$

210

 

Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties

The changes to our liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties that we recognize as a component of income tax expense, were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

382

 

$

515

 

$

485

 

Additions for current year tax positions

 

24

 

58

 

45

 

Additions for prior year tax positions

 

10

 

25

 

29

 

Reductions for prior year tax positions

 

(72

)

(24

)

 

Settlements

 

(6

)

(120

)

(42

)

Reductions related to statute of limitation expirations

 

(12

)

(72

)

(2

)

Balance, end of period

 

$

326

 

$

382

 

$

515

 

Schedule of unrecognized tax benefits, including related interest and penalties

The liabilities related to our unrecognized tax benefits, including related interest and penalties that we recognize as a component of income tax expense, were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties

 

$

326

 

$

382

 

Interest and penalties

 

176

 

199

 

Unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties

 

$

502

 

$

581