Taxes on Earnings	6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Taxes on Earnings	Taxes on Earnings Tax Matters Agreement and Other Income Tax Matters In connection with the Separation, HP entered into the tax matters agreement (“TMA”) with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, effective on November 1, 2015, that governs the rights and obligations of HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise for certain pre-Separation tax liabilities. The TMA provides that HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise will share certain pre-Separation income tax liabilities. In certain jurisdictions, HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have joint and several liability for past income tax liabilities and accordingly, HP could be legally liable under applicable tax law for such liabilities and required to make additional tax payments. In addition, if the distribution of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s common shares to the HP stockholders is determined to be taxable, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP would share the tax liability equally, unless the taxability of the distribution is the direct result of action taken by either Hewlett Packard Enterprise or HP subsequent to the distribution, in which case the party causing the distribution to be taxable would be responsible for any taxes imposed on the distribution. Upon completion of the Separation on November 1, 2015, HP recorded income tax indemnification receivables from Hewlett Packard Enterprise for certain income tax liabilities that HP is jointly and severally liable for, but for which it is indemnified by Hewlett Packard Enterprise under the TMA. The actual amount that Hewlett Packard Enterprise may be obligated to pay HP could vary depending on the outcome of certain unresolved tax matters, which may not be resolved for several years. The net receivable as of April 30, 2017 was $1.6 billion. In connection with the TMA, Interest and other, net for the six months ended April 30, 2017 includes income of $6 million for changes in the tax indemnifications amounts. Provision for Taxes HP’s effective tax rate for continuing operations was 25.9% and 21.1% for the three months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and 23.5% and 21.6% for the six months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. HP’s effective tax rate generally differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to favorable tax rates associated with certain earnings from HP’s operations in lower-tax jurisdictions throughout the world. HP has not provided U.S. taxes for all foreign earnings because HP plans to reinvest some of those earnings indefinitely outside the United States. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2017, HP recorded $4 million and $5 million, respectively, of net tax benefits related to discrete items in the provision for taxes for continuing operations. These amounts included a tax benefit of $12 million and $31 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2017, respectively, related to restructuring charges. The three months ended April 30, 2017 also included various other tax charges of $8 million. The six months ended April 30, 2017 also included a tax charge of $26 million related to state provision to return adjustments. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2016, HP recorded discrete items resulting in net tax benefits of $33 million and $86 million, respectively, for continuing operations. These amounts included a tax benefit of $32 million and $38 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2016, respectively, related to restructuring charges. The six months ended April 30, 2016 also included a tax benefit of $41 million arising from the retroactive research and development credit provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 signed into law in December 2015. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2017, in addition to the discrete items mentioned above, HP recorded excess tax benefits of $5.6 million and $12.4 million, respectively, on stock options, restricted stock and performance share units, which are reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings as a component of the provision for income taxes as a result of the early adoption of ASU 2016-09 -“Improvements to Employee Share- Based Payment Accounting”. See Note 1, “Basis of Presentation”, for more details regarding the guidance. Uncertain Tax Positions As of April 30, 2017, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $10.8 billion, of which up to $3.9 billion would affect HP’s effective tax rate if realized. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits increased by $19 million for the six months ended April 30, 2017. HP continues to record its tax liabilities related to uncertain tax positions and certain liabilities for which it has joint and several liability with Hewlett Packard Enterprise. HP recognizes interest income from favorable settlements and interest expense and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for taxes in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings. As of April 30, 2017, HP had accrued $219 million for interest and penalties. HP engages in continuous discussions and negotiations with taxing authorities regarding tax matters in various jurisdictions. HP expects to complete resolution of certain tax years with various tax authorities within the next 12 months. It is also possible that other federal, foreign and state tax issues may be concluded within the next 12 months.

Taxes on Earnings

Tax Matters Agreement and Other Income Tax Matters

In connection with the Separation, HP entered into the tax matters agreement (“TMA”) with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, effective on November 1, 2015, that governs the rights and obligations of HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise for certain pre-Separation tax liabilities. The TMA provides that HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise will share certain pre-Separation income tax liabilities. In certain jurisdictions, HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have joint and several liability for past income tax liabilities and accordingly, HP could be legally liable under applicable tax law for such liabilities and required to make additional tax payments.

In addition, if the distribution of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s common shares to the HP stockholders is determined to be taxable, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP would share the tax liability equally, unless the taxability of the distribution is the direct result of action taken by either Hewlett Packard Enterprise or HP subsequent to the distribution, in which case the party causing the distribution to be taxable would be responsible for any taxes imposed on the distribution.

Upon completion of the Separation on November 1, 2015, HP recorded income tax indemnification receivables from Hewlett Packard Enterprise for certain income tax liabilities that HP is jointly and severally liable for, but for which it is indemnified by Hewlett Packard Enterprise under the TMA. The actual amount that Hewlett Packard Enterprise may be obligated to pay HP could vary depending on the outcome of certain unresolved tax matters, which may not be resolved for several years. The net receivable as of April 30, 2017 was $1.6 billion. In connection with the TMA, Interest and other, net for the six months ended April 30, 2017 includes income of $6 million for changes in the tax indemnifications amounts.

Provision for Taxes

HP’s effective tax rate for continuing operations was 25.9% and 21.1% for the three months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively and 23.5% and 21.6% for the six months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. HP’s effective tax rate generally differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due to favorable tax rates associated with certain earnings from HP’s operations in lower-tax jurisdictions throughout the world. HP has not provided U.S. taxes for all foreign earnings because HP plans to reinvest some of those earnings indefinitely outside the United States.

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2017, HP recorded $4 million and $5 million, respectively, of net tax benefits related to discrete items in the provision for taxes for continuing operations. These amounts included a tax benefit of $12 million and $31 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2017, respectively, related to restructuring charges. The three months ended April 30, 2017 also included various other tax charges of $8 million. The six months ended April 30, 2017 also included a tax charge of $26 million related to state provision to return adjustments.

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2016, HP recorded discrete items resulting in net tax benefits of $33 million and $86 million, respectively, for continuing operations. These amounts included a tax benefit of $32 million and $38 million for the three and six months ended April 30, 2016, respectively, related to restructuring charges. The six months ended April 30, 2016 also included a tax benefit of $41 million arising from the retroactive research and development credit provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 signed into law in December 2015.

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2017, in addition to the discrete items mentioned above, HP recorded excess tax benefits of $5.6 million and $12.4 million, respectively, on stock options, restricted stock and performance share units, which are reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings as a component of the provision for income taxes as a result of the early adoption of ASU 2016-09 -“Improvements to Employee Share- Based Payment Accounting”. See Note 1, “Basis of Presentation”, for more details regarding the guidance.

Uncertain Tax Positions

As of April 30, 2017, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $10.8 billion, of which up to $3.9 billion would affect HP’s effective tax rate if realized. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits increased by $19 million for the six months ended April 30, 2017. HP continues to record its tax liabilities related to uncertain tax positions and certain liabilities for which it has joint and several liability with Hewlett Packard Enterprise. HP recognizes interest income from favorable settlements and interest expense and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for taxes in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings. As of April 30, 2017, HP had accrued $219 million for interest and penalties.

HP engages in continuous discussions and negotiations with taxing authorities regarding tax matters in various jurisdictions. HP expects to complete resolution of certain tax years with various tax authorities within the next 12 months. It is also possible that other federal, foreign and state tax issues may be concluded within the next 12 months.