Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

INCOME TAXES

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INCOME TAXES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES NOTE 4. INCOME TAXES
The following table summarizes income before income taxes:
 

Years ended December 31,
In millions

2018

2017

2016
U.S. income

$
1,239


$
1,237


$
995

Foreign income

1,514


1,128


935

Income before income taxes

$
2,753


$
2,365


$
1,930


Income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following:
 
 
Years ended December 31,
In millions
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Current
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. federal and state
 
$
303

 
$
355

 
$
211

Foreign
 
348

 
289

 
213

Impact of tax legislation
 
153

 
349

 

Total current
 
804

 
993

 
424

Deferred
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. federal and state
 
(71
)
 
(42
)
 
57

Foreign
 
(26
)
 
(12
)
 
(7
)
Impact of tax legislation
 
(141
)
 
432

 

Total deferred
 
(238
)
 
378

 
50

Income tax expense
 
$
566

 
$
1,371

 
$
474


A reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to the effective tax rate was as follows:
 
 
Years ended December 31,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate
 
21.0
 %
 
35.0
 %
 
35.0
 %
State income tax, net of federal effect
 
0.9

 
0.6

 
0.8

Differences in rates and taxability of foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures
 
(0.2
)
 
(6.4
)
 
(7.2
)
Research tax credits
 
(1.2
)
 
(1.4
)
 
(1.7
)
Impact of tax legislation
 
0.5

 
33.1

 

Other, net
 
(0.4
)
 
(2.9
)
 
(2.3
)
Effective tax rate
 
20.6
 %
 
58.0
 %
 
24.6
 %

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Legislation) which changed the U.S. statutory rate to 21 percent effective January 1, 2018 and required companies to pay a one-time transition tax on certain previously undistributed earnings on certain foreign subsidiaries and foreign joint ventures that were tax deferred. Our effective tax rate for 2018 was 20.6 percent compared to 58.0 percent for 2017 and 24.6 percent for 2016. The impacts of the Tax Legislation resulted in additional tax expense of $12 million in 2018 and $781 million in 2017.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued guidance which addressed the uncertainty in the application of GAAP to the Tax Legislation where certain income tax effects could not be finalized at December 31, 2017. This guidance allowed entities to record provisional amounts based on current estimates that were updated on a quarterly basis in 2018. The SEC required final calculations to be completed within the one year measurement period ending December 22, 2018 and reflect any additional guidance issued throughout the year. We made provisional estimates of the effects of the Tax Legislation in three primary areas: (1) our existing deferred tax balances; (2) the one-time transition tax and (3) the withholding tax accrued on those earnings no longer considered permanently reinvested at December 31, 2017. Each of these items is described in more detail below.
2017 IMPACT OF TAX LEGISLATION
Deferred tax assets and liabilities
We remeasured certain deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they were expected to reverse in the future, which was generally 21 percent. The provisional amount related to the remeasurement of our deferred tax balance was an incremental tax expense of $152 million in 2017. See NOTE 3, "INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY INVESTEES," for the impact to our equity investees.
One-time transition tax
The one-time transition tax was based on our total post-1986 unrepatriated earnings and profits not previously subject to U.S. income tax. The recorded provisional amount for our one-time transition tax was a tax expense of $298 million with a cash impact of $338 million.
Withholding tax
Withholding tax is an additional cost associated with the distribution of earnings from some jurisdictions. As a result of the Tax Legislation, we reconsidered previous assertions regarding earnings that were considered permanently reinvested, which required us to record withholding taxes on earnings likely to be distributed in the foreseeable future. The assertion as to which earnings are permanently reinvested for purposes of calculating withholding tax was provisional as we refined the underlying calculations of the amount of earnings subject to the tax and the rate at which it will be taxed. The recorded provisional amount for the withholding tax resulted in an incremental tax expense of $331 million. See NOTE 3, "INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY INVESTEES," and NOTE 17, "NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS," for the impact of withholding taxes to our equity investees and noncontrolling interests.
2018 ADJUSTMENTS TO TAX LEGISLATION
We completed accounting for the tax effects of the enactment of the Tax Legislation at December 31, 2018 and included $12 million of unfavorable discrete tax items in our 2018 tax provision.
The adjustments for income tax expense (benefit) during the one-year Tax Legislation measurement period for each group and other Tax Legislation adjustments consisted of the following:
 
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
 
In millions
 
2018
 
2017
 
Total Impact
One-year measurement adjustments to 2017 estimates
 
 
 
 
 
 
Withholding tax accrued
 
$
(148
)
 
$
331

 
$
183

Deferred tax balances
 
7

 
152

 
159

One-time transition tax
 
111

 
298

 
409

Net impact of measurement period changes
 
(30
)
 
781

 
751

Other 2018 adjustments
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax charges(1)
 
35

 

 
35

Foreign currency adjustment related to Tax Legislation
 
7

 

 
7

Net impact of 2018 adjustments
 
42

 

 
42

Total Tax Legislation impact
 
$
12

 
$
781

 
$
793

____________________________________________________
(1) Charges relate to one-time recognition of deferred tax charges at historical tax rates on intercompany profit in inventory.

Carryforward tax benefits and the tax effect of temporary differences between financial and tax reporting that give rise to net deferred tax (liabilities) assets were as follows:
 
 
December 31,
In millions
 
2018
 
2017
Deferred tax assets
 
 
 
 
U.S. state carryforward benefits
 
$
191

 
$
200

Foreign carryforward benefits
 
149

 
159

Employee benefit plans
 
245

 
274

Warranty expenses
 
401

 
300

Accrued expenses
 
94

 
95

Other
 
65

 
70

Gross deferred tax assets
 
1,145

 
1,098

Valuation allowance
 
(327
)
 
(347
)
Total deferred tax assets
 
818

 
751

Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment
 
(255
)
 
(250
)
Unremitted income of foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures
 
(184
)
 
(331
)
Employee benefit plans
 
(202
)
 
(224
)
Other
 
(30
)
 
(31
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
 
(671
)
 
(836
)
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
 
$
147

 
$
(85
)

Our 2018 U.S. carryforward benefits include $191 million of state credit and net operating loss carryforward benefits that begin to expire in 2019. Our foreign carryforward benefits include $149 million of net operating loss carryforwards that begin to expire in 2019. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the gross deferred tax assets to an amount we believe is more likely than not to be realized. The valuation allowance is $327 million and decreased in 2018 by a net $20 million. The valuation allowance is primarily attributable to the uncertainty regarding the realization of a portion of the U.S. state and foreign net operating loss and tax credit carryforward benefits.
Our Consolidated Balance Sheets contain the following tax related items:
 
 
December 31,
In millions
 
2018
 
2017
Prepaid and other current assets
 
 
 
 
Refundable income taxes
 
$
117

 
$
152

Other assets
 
 
 
 
Deferred income tax assets
 
410

 
306

Long-term refundable income taxes
 
6

 
6

Accrued expenses
 
 
 
 
Income tax payable
 
97

 
77

Other liabilities and deferred revenue
 
 
 
 
Income tax payable
 
293

 
281

Deferred income tax liabilities
 
263

 
391



A reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
 
 
December 31,
In millions
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
41

 
$
59

 
$
135

Additions to current year tax positions
 
10

 
11

 
10

Additions to prior years' tax positions
 
27

 
9

 
18

Reductions to prior years' tax positions
 
(2
)
 
(3
)
 

Reductions for tax positions due to settlements with taxing authorities
 
(5
)
 
(35
)
 
(104
)
Balance at end of year
 
$
71

 
$
41

 
$
59


Included in the December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, balances are $62 million, $32 million and $31 million, respectively, related to tax positions that, if released, would favorably impact the effective tax rate in future periods. We have also accrued interest expense related to the unrecognized tax benefits of $4 million, $4 million and $3 million as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We recognize potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.
Audit outcomes and the timing of audit settlements are subject to significant uncertainty. Although we believe that adequate provision has been made for such issues, there is the possibility that the ultimate resolution of such issues could have an adverse effect on our earnings. Conversely, if these issues are resolved favorably in the future, the related provision would be reduced, thus having a positive impact on earnings.
As a result of our global operations, we file income tax returns in various jurisdictions including U.S. federal, state and foreign jurisdictions. We are routinely subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom (U.K.) and the U.S. With few exceptions, our U.S. federal, major state and foreign jurisdictions are no longer subject to income tax assessments for years before 2014.