INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

INCOME TAXES

	Three Months Ended March 31,
Dollars in Millions	2021			2020
Earnings/(Loss) Before Income Taxes	$	2,530		$	(304)
Provision for Income Taxes	501			462
Effective Tax Rate	19.8		%	(152.0)		%

Income taxes in interim periods are determined based on the estimated annual effective tax rates and the tax impact of discrete items that are reflected immediately. The effective tax rates in the first quarter of 2021 and 2020 were impacted by low jurisdictional tax rates attributed to the unwinding or amortization of inventory and intangible asset purchase price adjustments, contingent value rights fair value adjustments that are not taxable or deductible and valuation allowances on equity investment fair value adjustments. Additional changes to the effective tax rate may occur in future periods due to various reasons including changes to the estimated pretax earnings mix and tax reserves, cash repatriations and revised interpretations of the relevant tax code.

It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2021 could decrease in the range of approximately $460 million to $510 million in the next twelve months as a result of the settlement of certain tax audits and other events. The expected change in unrecognized tax benefits may result in the payment of additional taxes, adjustment of certain deferred taxes and/or recognition of tax benefits.

BMS is currently under examination by a number of tax authorities, which have proposed or are considering proposing material adjustments to tax positions for issues such as transfer pricing, certain tax credits and the deductibility of certain expenses. As previously disclosed, BMS received several notices of proposed adjustments from the IRS related to transfer pricing and other tax positions for the 2008 to 2012 tax years. BMS disagrees with the IRS’s positions and continues to work cooperatively with the IRS to resolve these open tax audits. It is reasonably possible that new issues will be raised by tax authorities that may increase unrecognized tax benefits; however, an estimate of such increases cannot reasonably be made at this time. BMS believes that it has adequately provided for all open tax years by tax jurisdiction.