Income taxes - provision for income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Current provision
Federal	$ 79	$ 184	$ 228
State	115	49	46
Non–U.S.	234	135	183
Total current provisions for income taxes	428	368	457
Deferred provision
Federal	(10)	(83)	151
State	(46)	2	4
Non–U.S. – tax law change	344	139	0
Non–U.S. – excluding tax law change	(49)	(87)	(35)
Total non-current provisions for income taxes	239	(29)	120
Income tax provision	$ 667	$ 339	$ 577