Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Mar. 31, 2021
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income taxes The provision for income taxes for the first three months of 2021 reflected a lower estimated annual tax rate of 26 percent, compared with 31 percent for the first three months of 2020, excluding the discrete items discussed below. The comparative tax rate for full-year 2020 was approximately 28 percent. The decrease in the estimated annual tax rate from full-year 2020 is primarily related to changes in the expected geographic mix of profits from a tax perspective for 2021. In addition, a discrete tax benefit of $43 million was recorded in the first three months of 2021, compared with an $8 million benefit in the first three months of 2020, for the settlement of stock-based compensation awards with associated tax deductions in excess of cumulative U.S. GAAP compensation expense. A $43 million tax charge was also recorded in the first three months of 2020 related to the $254 million remeasurement gain resulting from the settlement of a non-U.S. pension obligation. On January 31, 2018, we received a Revenue Agent’s Report from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) indicating the end of the field examination of our U.S. income tax returns for 2010 to 2012. In the audits of 2007 to 2012 including the impact of a loss carryback to 2005, the IRS has proposed to tax in the United States profits earned from certain parts transactions by Caterpillar SARL (CSARL), based on the IRS examination team’s application of the “substance-over-form” or “assignment-of-income” judicial doctrines. We are vigorously contesting the proposed increases to tax and penalties for these years of approximately $2.3 billion. We believe that the relevant transactions complied with applicable tax laws and did not violate judicial doctrines. We have filed U.S. income tax returns on this same basis for years after 2012. Based on the information currently available, we do not anticipate a significant change to our unrecognized tax benefits for this position within the next 12 months. We currently believe the ultimate disposition of this matter will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

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.