Income taxes	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	Income Taxes: The income tax rate of 34.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased 12.9 percentage points from 47.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The income tax rate of 32.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 decreased 29.4 percentage points from 61.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The decreases in the income tax rates were due primarily to a $312 million charge that primarily represents interest on tax underpayments associated with the PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge which was recorded during the second quarter of 2011. The decreases in the income tax rates were further impacted by a $73 million interest benefit, recorded during the second quarter of 2012 resulting primarily from lower than estimated interest on tax underpayments related to the Closing Agreement with the IRS. As a result of the Closing Agreement, on June 15, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. paid $456 million in federal income taxes and related estimated interest on tax underpayments. Altria Group, Inc. also expects to pay approximately $50 million in state taxes and related estimated interest during the second half of 2012. The tax component of these payments represents an acceleration of federal and state income taxes that Altria Group, Inc. would have otherwise paid over the lease terms of these transactions. See Note 8. Finance Assets, net and Note 11. Contingencies for further discussion of the Closing Agreement and the PMCC leveraged lease benefit/charge.

Income taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Income Taxes:

The income tax rate of 34.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2012 decreased 12.9 percentage points from 47.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The income tax rate of 32.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2012 decreased 29.4 percentage points from 61.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The decreases in the income tax rates were due primarily to a $312 million charge that primarily represents interest on tax underpayments associated with the PMCC Leveraged Lease Charge which was recorded during the second quarter of 2011. The decreases in the income tax rates were further impacted by a $73 million interest benefit, recorded during the second quarter of 2012 resulting primarily from lower than estimated interest on tax underpayments related to the Closing Agreement with the IRS.

As a result of the Closing Agreement, on June 15, 2012, Altria Group, Inc. paid $456 million in federal income taxes and related estimated interest on tax underpayments. Altria Group, Inc. also expects to pay approximately $50 million in state taxes and related estimated interest during the second half of 2012. The tax component of these payments represents an acceleration of federal and state income taxes that Altria Group, Inc. would have otherwise paid over the lease terms of these transactions.

See Note 8. Finance Assets, net and Note 11. Contingencies for further discussion of the Closing Agreement and the PMCC leveraged lease benefit/charge.