INCOME TAXES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
INCOME TAXES	NOTE 14. INCOME TAXES Our consolidated effective income tax rate was 17.4% and (18.1)% during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The rate for 2019 is lower than the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to favorable audit resolutions, the benefit of the lower-taxed disposition of our Digital ServiceMax business and U.S. business credits. This was partially offset by the cost of the recently enacted base erosion and global intangible low tax income provisions in excess of the benefit from other global activities. The negative rate for 2018 reflects a tax benefit on pretax income. The rate for 2018 benefited from U.S. business credits and an adjustment for Baker Hughes related to the provisional estimate of the impact of the 2017 enactment of U.S. tax reform partially offset by the cost of the newly enacted base erosion and global intangible low tax income provisions in excess of the benefit from other global activities. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“U.S. tax reform”) that lowered the statutory tax rate on U.S. earnings to 21%, taxes historic foreign earnings at a reduced rate of tax, establishes a territorial tax system and enacts new taxes associated with global operations. As a result of additional guidance issued during the first quarter of 2019, we recorded offsetting expense at GE and GE Capital that results in an insignificant charge associated with the adjustment of the impact of the 2017 enactment of U.S. tax reform. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we finalized our provisional estimate of the enactment of U.S. tax reform and recorded an additional expense of $41 million based on guidance issued during 2018. Further guidance may be issued and any resulting effects will be recorded in the quarter of issuance. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is currently auditing our consolidated U.S. income tax returns for 2012-2013 and has begun the audit for 2014-2015. In addition, certain other U.S. tax deficiency issues and refund claims for previous years are still unresolved. It is reasonably possible that a portion of the unresolved items could be resolved during the next 12 months, which could result in a decrease in our balance of "unrecognized tax benefits" - that is, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements. The United Kingdom tax authorities have disallowed interest deductions claimed by GE Capital for the years 2007-2015 that could result in a potential impact of approximately $1 billion, which includes a possible assessment of tax and reduction of deferred tax assets, not including interest and penalties. We are contesting the disallowance. We comply with all applicable tax laws and judicial doctrines of the United Kingdom and believe that the entire benefit is more likely than not to be sustained on its technical merit. We believe that there are no other jurisdictions in which the outcome of unresolved issues or claims is likely to be material to our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We further believe that we have made adequate provision for all income tax uncertainties.

NOTE 14. INCOME TAXES

Our consolidated effective income tax rate was 17.4% and (18.1)% during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The rate for 2019 is lower than the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to favorable audit resolutions, the benefit of the lower-taxed disposition of our Digital ServiceMax business and U.S. business credits. This was partially offset by the cost of the recently enacted base erosion and global intangible low tax income provisions in excess of the benefit from other global activities. The negative rate for 2018 reflects a tax benefit on pretax income. The rate for 2018 benefited from U.S. business credits and an adjustment for Baker Hughes related to the provisional estimate of the impact of the 2017 enactment of U.S. tax reform partially offset by the cost of the newly enacted base erosion and global intangible low tax income provisions in excess of the benefit from other global activities.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. enacted legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“U.S. tax reform”) that lowered the statutory tax rate on U.S. earnings to 21%, taxes historic foreign earnings at a reduced rate of tax, establishes a territorial tax system and enacts new taxes associated with global operations. As a result of additional guidance issued during the first quarter of 2019, we recorded offsetting expense at GE and GE Capital that results in an insignificant charge associated with the adjustment of the impact of the 2017 enactment of U.S. tax reform. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we finalized our provisional estimate of the enactment of U.S. tax reform and recorded an additional expense of $41 million based on guidance issued during 2018. Further guidance may be issued and any resulting effects will be recorded in the quarter of issuance.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is currently auditing our consolidated U.S. income tax returns for 2012-2013 and has begun the audit for 2014-2015. In addition, certain other U.S. tax deficiency issues and refund claims for previous years are still unresolved. It is reasonably possible that a portion of the unresolved items could be resolved during the next 12 months, which could result in a decrease in our balance of "unrecognized tax benefits" - that is, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements. The United Kingdom tax authorities have disallowed interest deductions claimed by GE Capital for the years 2007-2015 that could result in a potential impact of approximately $1 billion, which includes a possible assessment of tax and reduction of deferred tax assets, not including interest and penalties. We are contesting the disallowance. We comply with all applicable tax laws and judicial doctrines of the United Kingdom and believe that the entire benefit is more likely than not to be sustained on its technical merit. We believe that there are no other jurisdictions in which the outcome of unresolved issues or claims is likely to be material to our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We further believe that we have made adequate provision for all income tax uncertainties.