Taxes on Earnings	9 Months Ended
Taxes on Earnings	Sep. 30, 2014
Taxes on Earnings
Taxes on Earnings	Note 13 — Taxes on Earnings Taxes on earnings from continuing operations reflect the estimated annual effective rates and include charges for interest and penalties, as well as the impact of changes in the Chilean tax rate. Earnings from Discontinued Operations, net of tax, in the first nine months of 2014 reflects the recognition of $101 million of net tax benefits primarily as a result of the resolution of various tax positions related to prior years. The conclusion of these tax matters decreased the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $134 million. In the third quarter of 2013 taxes on earnings reflect the recognition of $241 million of tax benefits in continuing operations as the result of the favorable resolution of various tax positions pertaining to prior years. 2013 Earnings from Discontinued Operations, net of tax, reflect the recognition of $193 million of tax benefits as a result of the favorable resolution of various tax positions related to AbbVie’s operations prior to separation. The conclusion of these tax matters decreased the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits by approximately $560 million. In addition, as a result of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 signed into law in January 2013, Abbott recorded a tax benefit to taxes on continuing operations of approximately $103 million in the first quarter of 2013 for the retroactive extension of the research tax credit and the look-through rules of section 954(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code to the beginning of 2012. Tax authorities in various jurisdictions regularly review Abbott’s income tax filings. Abbott believes that it is reasonably possible that the recorded amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $350 million, including cash adjustments, within the next twelve months as a result of concluding various domestic and international tax matters.

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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