Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	Income Taxes We conduct business globally and, as a result, UTC or one or more of our subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including such major jurisdictions as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2005. In the ordinary course of business, there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date. It is reasonably possible that over the next 12 months the amount of unrecognized tax benefits may change within a range of a net increase of $45 million to a net decrease of $510 million as a result of additional worldwide uncertain tax positions, the revaluation of current uncertain tax positions arising from developments in examinations, in appeals, in the courts, or the closure of tax statutes. See Note 15, Contingent Liabilities, for discussion regarding uncertain tax positions, included in the above range, related to pending litigation with respect to certain deductions claimed in Germany. During the quarter, the Examination Division of the Internal Revenue Service commenced audit fieldwork for UTC’s 2014 tax year. The audit fieldwork is expected to continue beyond the next 12 months.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Income Taxes

We conduct business globally and, as a result, UTC or one or more of our subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including such major jurisdictions as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations for years before 2005.

In the ordinary course of business, there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying our income tax positions. We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date. It is reasonably possible that over the next 12 months the amount of unrecognized tax benefits may change within a range of a net increase of $45 million to a net decrease of $510 million as a result of additional worldwide uncertain tax positions, the revaluation of current uncertain tax positions arising from developments in examinations, in appeals, in the courts, or the closure of tax statutes. See Note 15, Contingent Liabilities, for discussion regarding uncertain tax positions, included in the above range, related to pending litigation with respect to certain deductions claimed in Germany.

During the quarter, the Examination Division of the Internal Revenue Service commenced audit fieldwork for UTC’s 2014 tax year. The audit fieldwork is expected to continue beyond the next 12 months.