Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

NOTE 8. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2024 was 24.7 percent, an increase from 17.7 percent in the prior year. The primary factors that increased the Company's effective tax rate for first quarter 2024 were nonrecurring deferred tax benefits in 2023 as compared to 2024's decreased tax benefits related to significant litigation and stock-based compensation, as well as tax costs of entity structuring associated with the separation of Solventum.

The total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are $883 million and $884 million, respectively. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could significantly change within the next 12 months. At this time, the Company is not able to estimate the range by which these potential events could impact 3M’s unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had valuation allowances of $703 million and $706 million on its deferred tax assets, respectively.

In 2021, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published Pillar Two Model Rules defining a global minimum tax, which calls for the taxation of large corporations at a minimum rate of 15%. The OECD has since issued administrative guidance providing transition and safe harbor rules around the implementation of the Pillar Two global minimum tax. Effective January 1, 2024, a number of countries have proposed or enacted legislation to implement core elements of the Pillar Two proposal. Pillar Two did not have a significant impact on 3M's first quarter 2024 results. While 3M is monitoring developments and evaluating the potential impact on future periods, 3M does not expect Pillar Two to have a significant impact on its 2024 financial results.