Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Income Taxes [Line Items]

Schedule of income before income taxes

Income Before Income Taxes
Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2019		2018		2017
Domestic	$	16,646	$	14,387	$	14,331
Foreign	350		855		1,022
	$	16,996	$	15,242	$	15,353

Schedule for the components of income tax expense

Components of Income Tax (Expense) Benefit
Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2019			2018			2017
Current (Expense) Benefit:
Federal	$	(2,085	)	$	(2,026	)	$	(2,411	)
State	(425		)	(639		)	(277		)
Foreign	(600		)	(425		)	(389		)
	(3,110		)	(3,090		)	(3,077		)
Deferred (Expense) Benefit:
Federal	(902		)	(546		)	10,651
State	15			167			(11		)
Foreign	324			89			6
	(563		)	(290		)	10,646
Income tax (expense) benefit	$	(3,673	)	$	(3,380	)	$	7,569

Schedule of items that effect income tax expense

Our income tax (expense) benefit differs from the federal statutory amount because of the effect of the items detailed in the table below. 

Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2019			2018			2017
Federal tax at statutory rate	$	(3,569	)	$	(3,201	)	$	(5,374	)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	(306		)	(212		)	(299		)
Foreign income taxed at different rates	(126		)	(147		)	(70		)
Nontaxable income attributable to noncontrolling interests	51			20			45
Adjustments to uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net	(3		)	(144		)	62
Accrued interest and penalties on uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net	13			(29		)	(3		)
Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation	196			75			297
Tax legislation	31			120			12,682
Other	40			138			229
Income tax (expense) benefit	$	(3,673	)	$	(3,380	)	$	7,569

Schedule of the components of net deferred tax liability

Components of Net Deferred Tax Liability
December 31 (in millions)	2019		2018
Deferred Tax Assets:
Net operating loss and other loss carryforwards	$	2,017	$	1,926
Nondeductible accruals and other	2,779		2,656
Less: Valuation allowance	1,906		632
	2,890		3,950
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment and intangible assets	29,387		29,139
Differences between book and tax basis of investments	702		491
Differences between book and tax basis of long-term debt	751		604
Differences between book and tax basis of foreign subsidiaries and undistributed foreign earnings	143		85
	30,983		30,319
Net deferred tax liability	$	28,093	$	26,369

Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
(in millions)	2019			2018			2017
Gross unrecognized tax benefits, January 1	$	1,543		$	1,497		$	1,443
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	230			229			121
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	133			125			319
Additions from acquired subsidiaries	1			130			—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(344		)	(346		)	(251		)
Reductions due to expiration of statutes of limitations	(117		)	(75		)	(70		)
Settlements with tax authorities	(24		)	(17		)	(65		)
Gross unrecognized tax benefits, December 31	1,422			1,543			1,497
Positions paid	(409		)	(531		)	(688		)
Liability for uncertain tax positions	$	1,013		$	1,012		$	809

NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]

Income Taxes [Line Items]

Schedule for the components of income tax expense

Components of Income Tax Expense
Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2019			2018			2017
Foreign
Current income tax expense	$	(184	)	$	(230	)	$	(201	)
Deferred income tax expense	44			31			7
Withholding tax expense	(145		)	(163		)	(187		)
U.S. domestic tax expense	(35		)	11			(11		)
Income tax expense	$	(320	)	$	(351	)	$	(392	)