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Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
INCOME TAXES

The worldwide effective income tax rates for the fiscal first quarters of 2013 and 2012 were 17.9% and 22.5%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate in 2013 as compared to 2012 was primarily due to the inclusion of the benefit from the U.S. Research & Development (R&D) tax credit, the Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) look-through provisions from the 2012 fiscal year and increases in taxable income in lower tax jurisdictions relative to higher tax jurisdictions. The R&D tax credit and the CFC look-through provisions were enacted into law in January 2013 and were retroactive to January 1, 2012. The entire 2012 R&D tax credit and the CFC look-through provisions were reflected in the fiscal first quarter of 2013 and decreased the tax rate by 2.4 points. Additionally, the quarterly impact of the 2013 R&D tax credit and the CFC look-through provisions is reflected in the 2013 fiscal first quarter financial results.

As of March 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $2.8 billion of liabilities from unrecognized tax benefits. The Company believes it is possible that audits may be completed by tax authorities in some jurisdictions over the next twelve months, including the U.S. Internal Revenue Service audit related to tax years 2006-2009. However, the Company is not able to provide a reasonably reliable estimate of the timing of any other future tax payments relating to uncertain tax positions.