Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Jan. 29, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company recorded a $25 million tax benefit associated with the establishment of a deferred tax asset on the tax basis in excess of book basis of a wholly owned US subsidiary the Company expects to dispose of during the foreseeable future. This benefit was recorded within provision for income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income. The Company’s effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended January 29, 2016 were 7.1 percent and 24.0 percent, respectively, compared to 18.2 percent and 18.9 percent for the three and nine months ended January 23, 2015, respectively. The change in the Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended January 29, 2016 was primarily due to the permanent extension of the U.S. federal research and development tax credit, certain tax adjustments, the impact of special charges, restructuring charges, net, acquisition-related items, the impact from the acquisition of Covidien, and year over year changes in operational results by jurisdiction. During the nine months ended January 29, 2016, the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits decreased from $2.860 billion to $2.647 billion. In addition, the Company has accrued gross interest and penalties of $607 million as of January 29, 2016. If all of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were recognized, approximately $2.070 billion would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company has recorded $11 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits as a current liability and $2.636 billion as a long-term liability. The Company will continue to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters within provision for income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income and record the liability within accrued income taxes or long-term accrued income taxes in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, as appropriate. See Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the status of current tax audits and proceedings.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Jan. 29, 2016

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company recorded a $25 million tax benefit associated with the establishment of a deferred tax asset on the tax basis in excess of book basis of a wholly owned US subsidiary the Company expects to dispose of during the foreseeable future. This benefit was recorded within provision for income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

The Company’s effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended January 29, 2016 were 7.1 percent and 24.0 percent, respectively, compared to 18.2 percent and 18.9 percent for the three and nine months ended January 23, 2015, respectively. The change in the Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended January 29, 2016 was primarily due to the permanent extension of the U.S. federal research and development tax credit, certain tax adjustments, the impact of special charges, restructuring charges, net, acquisition-related items, the impact from the acquisition of Covidien, and year over year changes in operational results by jurisdiction.

During the nine months ended January 29, 2016, the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits decreased from $2.860 billion to $2.647 billion. In addition, the Company has accrued gross interest and penalties of $607 million as of January 29, 2016. If all of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were recognized, approximately $2.070 billion would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company has recorded $11 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits as a current liability and $2.636 billion as a long-term liability.

The Company will continue to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters within provision for income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of income and record the liability within accrued income taxes or long-term accrued income taxes in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, as appropriate.

See Note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the status of current tax audits and proceedings.