Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Projected Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets And Funded Status Of Pension Plans

▪Obligations and Funded Status: The projected benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of Altria Group, Inc.'s pension plans at December 31, 2012 and 2011, were as follows:

(in millions)	2012			2011
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	6,965		$	6,439
Service cost	79			74
Interest cost	344			351
Benefits paid	(420		)	(371		)
Actuarial losses	956			460
Termination and curtailment	—			17
Other	—			(5		)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	7,924			6,965
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	5,275			5,218
Actual return on plan assets	755			188
Employer contributions	557			240
Benefits paid	(420		)	(371		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	6,167			5,275
Net pension liability recognized at December 31	$	(1,757	)	$	(1,690	)

Net Pension Liability Recognized In Consolidated Balance Sheets

The net pension liability recognized in Altria Group, Inc.'s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2012 and 2011, was as follows:

(in millions)	2012			2011
Other accrued liabilities	$	(22	)	$	(28	)
Accrued pension costs	(1,735		)	(1,662		)
	$	(1,757	)	$	(1,690	)

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used To Determine Benefit Obligations

The following assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.'s benefit obligations under the plans at December 31:

	2012		2011
Discount rate	4.0	%	5.0	%
Rate of compensation increase	4.0		4.0

Schedule Of Components Of Net Periodic Pension Cost

▪Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost: Net periodic pension cost consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

(in millions)	2012			2011			2010
Service cost	$	79		$	74		$	80
Interest cost	344			351			356
Expected return on plan assets	(442		)	(422		)	(421		)
Amortization:
Net loss	224			171			126
Prior service cost	10			14			13
Termination, settlement and curtailment	21			41			—
Net periodic pension cost	$	236		$	229		$	154

Termination, Settlement And Curtailment Changes For Pension Plans

The amounts included in termination, settlement and curtailment in the table above for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were comprised of the following changes:

(in millions)	2012		2011
Benefit obligation	$	—	$	39
Other comprehensive earnings/losses:
Net losses	21		—
Prior service cost	—		2
	$	21	$	41

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used To Determine Net Pension Cost

The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.'s net pension cost for the years ended December 31:

	2012		2011		2010
Discount rate	5.0	%	5.5	%	5.9	%
Expected rate of return on plan assets	8.0		8.0		8.0
Rate of compensation increase	4.0		4.0		4.5

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

The fair values of Altria Group, Inc.'s pension plan assets by asset category were as follows:

Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2012

(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Common/collective trusts:
U.S. large cap	$	—	$	1,566	$	—	$	1,566
U.S. small cap	—		499		—		499
International developed markets	—		179		—		179
Long duration fixed income	—		494		—		494
U.S. and foreign government securities or their agencies:
U.S. government and agencies	—		625		—		625
U.S. municipal bonds	—		71		—		71
Foreign government and agencies	—		311		—		311
Corporate debt instruments:
Above investment grade	—		714		—		714
Below investment grade and no rating	—		391		—		391
Common stock:
International equities	759		—		—		759
U.S. equities	300		—		—		300
Registered investment companies	128		50		—		178
U.S. and foreign cash and cash equivalents	16		4		—		20
Asset backed securities	—		35		—		35
Other, net	9		2		14		25
Total investments at fair value, net	$	1,212	$	4,941	$	14	$	6,167

Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2011

(in millions)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Common/collective trusts:
U.S. large cap	$	—	$	1,482	$	—	$	1,482
U.S. small cap	—		441		—		441
International developed markets	—		152		—		152
International emerging markets	—		100		—		100
Long duration fixed income	—		585		—		585
U.S. and foreign government securities or their agencies:
U.S. government and agencies	—		510		—		510
U.S. municipal bonds	—		44		—		44
Foreign government and agencies	—		204		—		204
Corporate debt instruments:
Above investment grade	—		618		—		618
Below investment grade and no rating	—		255		—		255
Common stock:
International equities	550		—		—		550
U.S. equities	21		—		—		21
Registered investment companies	124		63		—		187
U.S. and foreign cash and cash equivalents	42		4		—		46
Asset backed securities	—		49		—		49
Other, net	16		2		13		31
Total investments at fair value, net	$	753	$	4,509	$	13	$	5,275

Estimated Future Benefit Payments From Pension Plans

The estimated future benefit payments from the Altria Group, Inc. pension plans at December 31, 2012, are as follows:

(in millions)
2013	$	400
2014	412
2015	414
2016	420
2017	427
2018-2022	2,227

Postretirement Health Costs

Net postretirement health care costs consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

(in millions)	2012			2011			2010
Service cost	$	18		$	34		$	29
Interest cost	115			139			135
Amortization:
Net loss	40			39			32
Prior service credit	(45		)	(21		)	(21		)
Termination and curtailment	(26		)	(4		)	—
Net postretirement health care costs	$	102		$	187		$	175

Termination And Curtailment Costs Changes For Postretirement Health Care Plans

The amounts included in termination and curtailment shown in the table above for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were comprised of the following changes:

(in millions)	2012			2011
Accrued postretirement health care costs	$	—		$	11
Other comprehensive earnings/losses:
Prior service credit	(26		)	(15		)
	$	(26	)	$	(4	)

Weighted-Average Assumptions To Determine Net Postretirement Cost

The following assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.'s net postretirement cost for the years ended December 31:

	2012		2011		2010
Discount rate	4.9	%	5.5	%	5.8	%
Health care cost trend rate	8.0		8.0		7.5

Changes In Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation

Altria Group, Inc.'s postretirement health care plans are not funded. The changes in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at December 31, 2012 and 2011, were as follows:

(in millions)	2012			2011
Accrued postretirement health care costs at beginning of year	$	2,505		$	2,548
Service cost	18			34
Interest cost	115			139
Benefits paid	(135		)	(136		)
Plan amendments	—			(282		)
Actuarial losses	160			191
Termination and curtailment	—			11
Accrued postretirement health care costs at end of year	$	2,663		$	2,505

Assumptions To Determine Postretirement Benefit Obligations

The following assumptions were used to determine Altria Group, Inc.'s postretirement benefit obligations at December 31:

	2012		2011
Discount rate	3.9	%	4.9	%
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.5		8.0
Ultimate trend rate	5.0		5.0
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2018		2018

Effects Of One-Percentage-Point Change In Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates

A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects as of December 31, 2012:

	One-Percentage-Point Increase		One-Percentage-Point Decrease
Effect on total of service and interest cost	7.1	%	(6.0	)%
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	6.8		(5.8	)

Estimated Future Payments For Postretirement Health Care Plans

Altria Group, Inc.'s estimated future benefit payments for its postretirement health care plans at December 31, 2012, are as follows:

(in millions)
2013	$	159
2014	168
2015	174
2016	177
2017	177
2018-2022	825

Net Postemployment Costs

Net postemployment costs consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

(in millions)	2012			2011		2010
Service cost	$	1		$	1	$	1
Interest cost	1			2		1
Amortization of net loss	17			16		12
Other	(7		)	121		5
Net postemployment costs	$	12		$	140	$	19

Changes In Benefit Obligations Of Postemployment Plans

Altria Group, Inc.'s postemployment benefit plans are not funded. The changes in the benefit obligations of the plans at December 31, 2012 and 2011, were as follows:

(in millions)	2012			2011
Accrued postemployment costs at beginning of year	$	270		$	151
Service cost	1			1
Interest cost	1			2
Benefits paid	(143		)	(48		)
Actuarial losses and assumption changes	27			43
Other	(7		)	121
Accrued postemployment costs at end of year	$	149		$	270

Amounts Recorded In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Losses

The amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses at December 31, 2012 consisted of the following:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Net losses	$	(3,186	)	$	(917	)	$	(169	)	$	(4,272	)
Prior service (cost) credit	(36		)	354			—			318
Deferred income taxes	1,254			221			65			1,540
Amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses	$	(1,968	)	$	(342	)	$	(104	)	$	(2,414	)

The amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses at December 31, 2011 consisted of the following:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Net losses	$	(2,788	)	$	(796	)	$	(175	)	$	(3,759	)
Prior service (cost) credit	(46		)	425			—			379
Deferred income taxes	1,104			146			68			1,318
Amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive losses	$	(1,730	)	$	(225	)	$	(107	)	$	(2,062	)

Movements In Other Comprehensive Earnings/Losses

The movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses during the year ended December 31, 2012 were as follows:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Amounts transferred to earnings as components of net periodic benefit cost:
Amortization:
Net losses	$	224		$	40		$	17		$	281
Prior service cost/credit	10			(45		)	—			(35		)
Other expense (income):
Net losses	21			—			—			21
Prior service cost/credit	—			(26		)	—			(26		)
Deferred income taxes	(99		)	12			(6		)	(93		)
	156			(19		)	11			148
Other movements during the year:
Net losses	(643		)	(161		)	(11		)	(815		)
Deferred income taxes	249			63			3			315
	(394		)	(98		)	(8		)	(500		)
Total movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses	$	(238	)	$	(117	)	$	3		$	(352	)

The movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses during the year ended December 31, 2011 were as follows:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Amounts transferred to earnings as components of net periodic benefit cost:
Amortization:
Net losses	$	171		$	39		$	16		$	226
Prior service cost/credit	14			(21		)	—			(7		)
Deferred income taxes	(72		)	(7		)	(6		)	(85		)
	113			11			10			134
Other movements during the year:
Net losses	(672		)	(188		)	(40		)	(900		)
Prior service cost/credit	2			264			—			266
Deferred income taxes	262			(27		)	14			249
	(408		)	49			(26		)	(385		)
Total movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses	$	(295	)	$	60		$	(16	)	$	(251	)

The movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses during the year ended December 31, 2010 were as follows:

(in millions)	Pensions			Post- retirement			Post- employment			Total
Amounts transferred to earnings as components of net periodic benefit cost:
Amortization:
Net losses	$	126		$	32		$	12		$	170
Prior service cost/credit	13			(21		)	—			(8		)
Deferred income taxes	(55		)	(4		)	(4		)	(63		)
	84			7			8			99
Other movements during the year:
Net losses	(41		)	(95		)	(10		)	(146		)
Prior service cost/credit	(16		)	58			—			42
Deferred income taxes	21			15			4			40
	(36		)	(22		)	(6		)	(64		)
Total movements in other comprehensive earnings/losses	$	48		$	(15	)	$	2		$	35