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Income Taxes | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Text Block [Abstract] |
Income Taxes | Note 11: Income Taxes Income (loss) from operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of:
|  |  | Years Ended December 31, |
| In millions |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
| Domestic |  | $ | 303 |  | $ | 574 |  | $ | 435 |
| Foreign |  |  | (14) |  |  | 67 |  |  | (19) |
| Income (loss) before income taxes |  | $ | 289 |  | $ | 641 |  | $ | 416 |
The Company files a consolidated tax return that includes all of its U.S. subsidiaries and foreign branches. The Company also files tax returns in the United Kingdom, Fra nce, Spain, and various state and local jurisdictions. Income tax expense (benefit) on income (loss) and shareholders’ equity consisted of:
|  |  |  | Years Ended December 31, |
| In millions |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
| Current taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Federal |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |
|  | State |  |  | 1 |  |  | 10 |  |  | 8 |
|  | Foreign |  |  | 2 |  |  | 12 |  |  | 1 |
| Deferred taxes: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Federal |  |  | 97 |  |  | 48 |  |  | 165 |
|  | Foreign |  |  | 9 |  |  | 2 |  |  | (8) |
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes |  |  | 109 |  |  | 72 |  |  | 166 |
| Income taxes charged (credited) to shareholders' equity related to: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Change in unrealized gains (losses) on AFS securities |  |  | (30) |  |  | 89 |  |  | (81) |
|  | Change in AFS securities with OTTI |  |  | - |  |  | (29) |  |  | 4 |
|  | Change in foreign currency translation |  |  | (14) |  |  | (13) |  |  | 1 |
|  | Share-based compensation |  |  | 9 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 4 |
| Total income taxes charged (credited) to shareholders' equity |  |  | (35) |  |  | 49 |  |  | (72) |
| Total effect of income taxes |  | $ | 74 |  | $ | 121 |  | $ | 94 |
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35% to the Company’s effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 is presented in the following table:
|  |  |  | Years Ended December 31, |
|  |  |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
| Federal income tax computed at the statutory rate |  | 35.0% |  | 35.0% |  | 35.0% |
| Increase (reduction) in taxes resulting from: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Mark-to-market on warrants |  | (1.2)% |  | (1.6)% |  | 3.8% |
|  | Change in valuation allowance |  | 0.0% |  | (13.5)% |  | (12.6)% |
|  | Change in uncertain tax positions |  | 0.0% |  | (9.1)% |  | 2.8% |
|  | Non deductible compensation |  | 2.7% |  | 0.0% |  | 0.0% |
|  | Basis difference in foreign subsidiary |  | 0.0% |  | 0.0% |  | 11.4% |
|  | Other |  | 1.2% |  | 0.4% |  | (0.5)% |
| Effective tax rate |  | 37.7% |  | 11.2% |  | 39.9% |
Deferred Tax Asset, Net of Valuation Allowance The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on tax assets and liabilities is recognized in inco me in the period that includes the enactment date. The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 are presented in the following table:
|  |  |  | As of December 31, |
| In millions |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
| Deferred tax liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Unearned premium revenue |  | $ | 159 |  | $ | 196 |
|  | Deferral of cancellation of indebtedness income |  |  | 68 |  |  | 91 |
|  | Deferred acquisition costs |  |  | 56 |  |  | 72 |
|  | Net unrealized gains in accumulated other comprehensive income |  |  | - |  |  | 4 |
|  | Partnership basis difference |  |  | 30 |  |  | 45 |
|  | Basis difference in foreign subsidiaries |  |  | 40 |  |  | 59 |
|  | Other |  |  | 91 |  |  | 55 |
| Total gross deferred tax liabilities |  |  | 444 |  |  | 522 |
| Deferred tax assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Compensation and employee benefits |  |  | 19 |  |  | 30 |
|  | Accrued interest |  |  | 137 |  |  | 99 |
|  | Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves |  |  | 119 |  |  | 69 |
|  | Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards |  |  | 972 |  |  | 1,150 |
|  | Other-than-temporary impairments |  |  | 5 |  |  | 6 |
|  | Net unrealized losses on insured derivatives |  |  | 35 |  |  | 93 |
|  | Net losses on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange |  |  | 45 |  |  | 37 |
|  | Net unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income |  |  | 15 |  |  | - |
|  | Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward |  |  | 22 |  |  | 22 |
|  | Net deferred taxes on VIEs |  |  | 14 |  |  | 25 |
| Total gross deferred tax assets |  |  | 1,383 |  |  | 1,531 |
|  | Valuation allowance |  |  | - |  |  | - |
| Net deferred tax asset |  | $ | 939 |  | $ | 1,009 |
The Company came to the conclusion that it is more likely than not that its net deferred tax asset will be fully realized after weighing all positive and negative evidence available as required under GAAP. The positive evidence that was considered included the cumulative operating income the Company has earned over the last three years, and the significant unearned premium income to be included in taxable income. The positive evidence outweighs any negative evidence that exists. As such, the Company believes that no valuation allowance is necessary in connection with this deferred tax asset. The Company will continue to analyze the need for a valuation allowance on a quarterly basis. In accordance with accounting guidance for income taxes, the nettin g of deferred taxes between different taxpaying jurisdictions is not permitted. As of December 31, 2015, there was also a non -U.S. deferred tax liability of $12 million included in “Other liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Tax Sh aring A greement The Company has a tax sharing agreement among its members effective January 1, 1987. The agreement was amended and restated effective September 8, 2011 to change the method of calculating each domestic insurer’s tax liability to the method permitted by paragraph 3(a) of Department Circular Letter #33 (1979). The agreement was submitted to the NYSDFS for review and non-disapproval pursuant to Section 1505 of the New York Insurance Law (“NYIL”). Refer to “Note 2: Significant Accounting Policie s” for further discussion on the Company’s tax sharing agreement. Treatment of Undistributed Earnings of Certain Foreign Subsidiaries—“Accounting for Income Taxes—Special A reas” In the fourth quarter of 2013, U.S. deferred income taxes were provided on the differences in the book and tax basis in the Company’s carrying value of MBIA UK and certain other entities since the Company no longer inten ds to permanently reinvest the se earnings. The impact is reflected in the Company’s 2013 tax provision. A cc o u n t i n g f o r U n c e r t a i n t y i n I n c o m e T ax e s The C o m p a ny’s po l i c y is t o r eco r d a n d d i s c l o s e an y c h an g e i n U T B an d r e l a t e d i n t e r es t a n d/or p e n a l t i e s t o i n c o m e t a x i n t h e co n s o l i d a t e d s t a t e m en t s o f o pe r a t i ons. The Company includes interest as a component of income tax expense. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had no UTB outstanding.
| In millions |  |  |  |
| Unrecognized tax benefit as of January 1, 2013 |  | $ | 47 |
| The gross amount of the increase/(decrease) in the UTB as a result of tax positions taken: |  |  |  |
|  | During a prior year |  |  | 18 |
| The amounts of decreases in the UTB as a result of the applicable statute of limitations |  |  | - |
| Unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31, 2013 |  | $ | 65 |
| The gross amount of the increase/(decrease) in the UTB as a result of tax positions taken: |  |  |  |
|  | During a prior year |  |  | (61) |
|  | During the current year |  |  | - |
| The amounts of decreases in the UTB related to settlements with taxing authorities |  |  | (4) |
| Unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31, 2014 |  | $ | - |
| The gross amount of the increase/(decrease) in the UTB as a result of tax positions taken: |  |  |  |
|  | During the current year |  |  | - |
| The amounts of decreases in the UTB related to settlements with taxing authorities |  |  | - |
| The reduction in the UTB as a result of the applicable statute of limitations |  |  | - |
| Unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31, 2015 |  | $ | - |
MBIA and its U.S. subsidiaries file a U.S. consolidated federal income tax return. Federal income tax returns through 2011 have been examined or surveyed. The tax authorities in the U nited Kingdom have audit ed MBIA UK for tax years 2005 through 201 2. In April of 2015, MBIA UK received correspondence from the HM Revenue & Customs closing the audit for the years under examination with no change in taxable income. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s NOL is approximately $2.8 billion. The NOL will e xpire between tax years 2029 through 203 4. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s foreign tax credit (“FTC”) is approximately $9 million. The FTC will expire between years 2019 through 2025. As of December 31, 2015, the Company has an alternative min imum tax credit carryforward of $22 million, which does not expire.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 + Details
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