XML 39 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.3.0.15
Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] 
Income Taxes [Text Block]

Note 10: Income Taxes

 

We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state, local, and non-U.S. jurisdictions. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations in major taxing jurisdictions for years before 2007. The IRS began its examination of tax years 2005–2007 during the third quarter of 2008. In the first quarter of 2010, we began the process of advancing the examination procedures to tax years 2008–2009 for certain matters under examination in the 2005–2007 audit cycle.

 

In the first quarter of 2011, we effectively settled the examinations of tax years 2005–2006. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2011, we advanced the audit of 2007 and certain matters related to tax years 2008–2009. Considering the current status of the 2007 audit and those matters related to 2008–2009, as well as the effective settlement of the audit of tax years 2005–2006, our gross unrecognized tax benefits were reduced by approximately $200 million in the first quarter of 2011, and our consolidated results of operations benefited from an immaterial reduction in income tax expense. During the second and third quarters of 2011, we made cash payments of approximately $180 million for tax years 2005–2006.

 

In the third quarter of 2011, we effectively settled the IRS examination of 2007 and certain matters related to tax years 2008–2009. The examination of the remainder of 2008–2009 will commence in the fourth quarter of 2011. Considering this next examination cycle, as well as the effective settlement of 2007 and certain matters related to 2008–2009, we reduced our gross unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $260 million in the third quarter of 2011. Our consolidated results of operations benefited from a reduction in tax expense of approximately $45 million in the third quarter, and we made a cash payment of approximately $120 million related to this settlement.

The U.S. health care legislation (both the primary "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" and the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act") eliminated the tax-free nature of the subsidy we receive for sponsoring retiree drug coverage that is "actuarially equivalent" to Medicare Part D. This provision is effective January 1, 2013. While this change has a future impact on our net tax deductions related to retiree health benefits, we were required to record a one-time charge to adjust our deferred tax asset for this change in the law in the quarter of enactment. Accordingly, we recorded a non-cash charge of $85.1 million in the first quarter of 2010.