Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Income Taxes:

The income tax rate of 24.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 decreased 0.6 percentage points from the six months ended June 30, 2018.

The income tax rate of 23.2% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 decreased 3.4 percentage points from the three months ended June 30, 2018, due primarily to the following:


▪	tax expense recorded in 2018 for a valuation allowance on foreign tax credit carryforwards that are not realizable;


▪	a foreign tax differential on Altria’s earnings from its equity investment in Cronos; and


▪	tax expense recorded in 2018 for adjustments to the provisional estimates recorded in 2017 related to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Altria is subject to income taxation in many jurisdictions. Unrecognized tax benefits reflect the difference between tax positions taken or expected to be taken on income tax returns and the amounts recognized in the financial statements. Resolution of the related tax positions with the relevant tax authorities may take many years to complete, and such timing is not entirely within the control of Altria. At June 30, 2019, Altria’s total unrecognized tax benefits were $50 million. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate at June 30, 2019 was $43 million, along with $7 million affecting deferred taxes. It is reasonably possible that within the next 12 months certain examinations will be resolved, which could result in a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $20 million. At December 31, 2018, Altria’s total unrecognized tax benefits were $85 million. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate at December 31, 2018 was $59 million, along with $26 million affecting deferred taxes.