New Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract]

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

The following table provides a description of issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, Altria:

Standards	Description	Effective Date for Public Entity	Effect on Financial Statements
ASU 2019-12 Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740)	The guidance removes certain exceptions for investments, intraperiod allocations and interim calculations, and adds guidance to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes.	The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application is permitted, including adoption in any interim period.	Altria's adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2020-01 Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815	The guidance provides clarification of the interaction of rules for equity securities, the equity method of accounting, and forward contracts and purchase options on certain types of securities.	The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application is permitted, including adoption in any interim period.	Altria's adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2020-06 Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity	The guidance simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity.  Key provisions of the guidance include reducing the number of accounting models, simplifying the earnings per share calculations and expanding the disclosures related to convertible instruments.	The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years.	Altria is in the process of evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.