Other Financial Data (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Other Financial Data [Abstract]

Other Income (Expense)

The components of Other income (expense) are as follows (in millions):

	Years ended December 31
	2020		2019		2018
Foreign currency remeasurement	$	(12)	$	9	$	25
Disposal of businesses	25		13		(6)
Pension and other postretirement	13		9		1
Equity earnings	4		4		4
Extinguishment of debt	(7)		—		—
Financial instruments	(11)		(34)		(49)
Total	$	12	$	1	$	(25)

Schedule of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Changes in the net carrying amount of allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows (in millions):

	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	70	$	62	$	59
Adoption of new accounting guidance (1)	7		—		—
Adjusted balance at beginning of period	77		62		59
Provision	29		27		24
Accounts written off, net of recoveries	(6)		(19)		(25)
Foreign currency translation and other	(2)		—		4
Balance at end of period	$	98	$	70	$	62

(1) The allowance for doubtful accounts resulted in a $7 million charge from the adoption of the new accounting standard on the measurement of credit losses on January 1, 2020. After tax impacts, this resulted in a $6 million decrease to Retained earnings. Refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Principles and Practices” for further information.

Schedule of Other Current Assets

The components of Other current assets are as follows (in millions):

As of December 31	2020		2019
Costs to fulfill contracts with customers	$	339	$	335
Taxes receivable	95		88
Prepaid expenses	111		97
Other (1)	79		82
Total	$	624	$	602

(1)December 31, 2019 includes $4 million previously classified as “Receivables from the Divested Business”.

Components of Fixed Assets, Net

The components of Fixed assets, net are as follows (in millions):

As of December 31	2020		2019
Software	$	808	$	727
Leasehold improvements	375		358
Computer equipment	249		250
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	246		225
Construction in progress	155		183
Other	34		37
Fixed assets, gross	1,867		1,780
Less: Accumulated depreciation	1,268		1,159
Fixed assets, net	$	599	$	621

Schedule of Other Non-current Assets

The components of Other non-current assets are as follows (in millions):

As of December 31	2020		2019
Costs to obtain contracts with customers	$	184	$	171
Investments	74		53
Leases	89		100
Taxes receivable	125		102
Other	138		144
Total	$	610	$	570

Schedule of Other Current Liabilities

The components of Other current liabilities are as follows (in millions):

As of December 31	2020		2019
Deferred revenue (1)	$	296	$	270
Taxes payable	80		93
Leases	234		210
Other	561		513
Total	$	1,171	$	1,086

(1)$454 million and $532 million was recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Schedule of Other Non-current Liabilities

The components of Other non-current liabilities are as follows (in millions):

As of December 31	2020		2019
Taxes payable (1)	$	561	$	525
Leases	65		76
Compensation and benefits	53		49
Deferred revenue	76		62
Other	140		165
Total	$	895	$	877

(1)Includes $145 million for the non-current portion of the Transition Tax, as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Refer to Note 11 “Income Taxes” for further information on the Transition Tax.