Taxes on Earnings (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of domestic and foreign components of earnings before taxes

The domestic and foreign components of earnings before taxes were as follows:

	For the fiscal years ended October 31,
	2016			2015		2014
	In millions
U.S.	$	(368	)	$	192	$	878
Non-U.S.	4,447			1,278		1,366
	$	4,079		$	1,470	$	2,244

Schedule of provision for (benefit from) taxes on earnings

The provision for (benefit from) taxes on earnings were as follows:

	For the fiscal years ended October 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	In millions
U.S. federal taxes:
Current	$	1,133		$	1,647		$	481
Deferred	(1,162		)	(3,508		)	(460		)
Non-U.S. taxes:
Current	1,085			492			375
Deferred	35			527			197
State taxes:
Current	72			47			45
Deferred	(245		)	(196		)	(42		)
	$	918		$	(991	)	$	596

Schedule of differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and effective tax rate

The differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and the Company's effective tax rate were as follows:

	For the fiscal years ended October 31,
	2016		2015		2014
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	(0.4	)%	14.1	%	2.4	%
Lower rates in other jurisdictions, net	(26.8	)%	(53.6	)%	(9.6	)%
Valuation allowance	(5.8	)%	(75.7	)%	3.2	%
Uncertain tax positions	23.7	%	5.8	%	(0.7	)%
Other, net	(3.2	)%	7.0	%	(3.7	)%
	22.5	%	(67.4	)%	26.6	%

Schedule of reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits

A reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

	As of October 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	In millions
Balance at beginning of year	$	4,901		$	2,067		$	1,925
Increases:
For current year's tax positions	1,481			1,449			273
For prior years' tax positions	863			3,591			533
Net transfers from former Parent through equity	4,540			—			—
Decreases:
For prior years' tax positions	(115		)	(554		)	(328		)
Statute of limitations expiration	(47		)	(12		)	(121		)
Settlements with taxing authorities	(73		)	(54		)	(215		)
Net transfers to former Parent through equity	—			(1,586		)	—
Balance at end of year	$	11,550		$	4,901		$	2,067

Schedule of significant components of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities

The significant components of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities were as follows:

	As of October 31,
	2016						2015
	Deferred Tax Assets			Deferred Tax Liabilities			Deferred Tax Assets			Deferred Tax Liabilities
	In millions
Loss and credit carryforwards	$	1,859		$	(26	)	$	1,706		$	—
Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries	—			(3,708		)	—			(3,362		)
Inventory valuation	94			(1		)	97			(24		)
Intercompany transactions—royalty prepayments	5,237			—			5,598			—
Intercompany transactions—excluding royalty prepayments	160			—			190			(14		)
Fixed assets	128			(128		)	327			(362		)
Warranty	164			—			171			(2		)
Employee and retiree benefits	1,655			(65		)	772			(48		)
Accounts receivable allowance	32			—			38			(9		)
Intangible assets	53			(176		)	—			(349		)
Restructuring	258			—			210			—
Deferred revenue	968			(3		)	1,152			(196		)
Other	436			—			241			—
Gross deferred tax assets and liabilities	11,044			(4,107		)	10,502			(4,366		)
Valuation allowance	(2,650		)	—			(2,252		)	—
Net deferred tax assets and liabilities	$	8,394		$	(4,107	)	$	8,250		$	(4,366	)

Schedule of current and long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

	As of October 31,
	2016			2015
	In millions
Deferred tax assets	$	4,430		$	3,925
Deferred tax liabilities	(143		)	(41		)
Deferred tax assets net of deferred tax liabilities	$	4,287		$	3,884

Schedule of tax credit carryforwards

As of October 31, 2016, Hewlett Packard Enterprise had recorded deferred tax assets for various tax credit carryforwards as follows:

	Carryforward		Valuation Allowance			Initial Year of Expiration
	In millions
U.S. foreign tax credits	$	291	$	—		2021
U.S. research and development and other credits	99		—			2019
Tax credits in state and foreign jurisdictions	205		(160		)	2019
Balance at end of year	$	595	$	(160	)

Schedule of valuation allowance balance

The deferred tax asset valuation allowance and changes were as follows:

	As of October 31,
	2016			2015			2014
	In millions
Balance at beginning of year	$	2,252		$	3,912		$	3,194
Income tax expense	(235		)	(1,155		)	198
Other comprehensive income, currency translation and charges to other accounts	633			(505		)	520
Balance at end of year	$	2,650		$	2,252		$	3,912