Taxes on Earnings (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Domestic and Foreign Components of Earnings

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

	For the fiscal years ended October 31
	2016		2015		2014
	In millions
U.S.	$	468	$	216	$	1,511
Non-U.S.	3,293		3,316		2,352
	$	3,761	$	3,532	$	3,863

Schedule of (Benefit from) Provision for Taxes on Earnings

The provision for (benefit from) taxes on earnings from continuing operations was as follows:

	For the fiscal years ended October 31
	2016			2015			2014
	In millions
U.S. federal taxes:
Current	$	439		$	(2,206	)	$	232
Deferred	470			1,069			128
Non-U.S. taxes:
Current	288			431			598
Deferred	(123		)	76			(26		)
State taxes:
Current	(35		)	362			129
Deferred	56			82			(122		)
	$	1,095		$	(186	)	$	939

Schedule of Differences Between U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate and HP's Effective Tax Rate

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

	For the fiscal years ended October 31
	2016		2015		2014
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate from continuing operations	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes from continuing operations, net of federal tax benefit	1.1	%	(6.1	)%	0.5	%
Lower rates in other jurisdictions, net	(9.3	)%	(1.2	)%	(11.6	)%
Research and development (“R&D”) credit	(2.4	)%	(0.2	)%	(0.2	)%
Valuation allowances	(1.2	)%	(48.0	)%	—
Uncertain tax positions	11.7	%	11.1	%	(1.6	)%
Indemnification Related Items	(4.1	)%	—		—
Other, net	(1.7	)%	4.1	%	2.2	%
	29.1	%	(5.3	)%	24.3	%

Reconciliation of 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	$	6,546		$	1,545		$	1,284
Increases:
For current year’s tax positions	468			2,102			166
For prior years’ tax positions	4,004			5,208			323
Decreases:
For prior years’ tax positions	(62		)	(2,063		)	(113		)
Statute of limitations expirations	—			(46		)	(41		)
Settlements with taxing authorities	(98		)	(200		)	(74		)
Balance at end of year	$	10,858		$	6,546		$	1,545

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	$	8,725		$	—		$	7,395		$	(14	)
Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries	—			(5,179		)	—			(5,112		)
Inventory valuation	—			(12		)	5			—
Intercompany transactions—profit in inventory	—			—			7			(110		)
Intercompany transactions—excluding inventory	2,560			—			2,069			—
Fixed assets	274			—			692			(420		)
Warranty	248			—			386			(6		)
Employee and retiree benefits	592			—			1,728			(689		)
Accounts receivable allowance	117			—			100			—
Intangible assets	23			(213		)	—			(126		)
Restructuring and other	17			—			19			—
Deferred revenue	206			—			201			(2		)
Other	399			(99		)	500			(116		)
Gross deferred tax assets and liabilities	13,161			(5,503		)	13,102			(6,595		)
Valuation allowances	(8,520		)	—			(7,114		)	—
Net deferred tax assets and liabilities	$	4,641		$	(5,503	)	$	5,988		$	(6,595	)

Current and long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:

	As of October 31
	2016			2015
	In millions
Current deferred tax assets	$	—		$	1,047
Current deferred tax liabilities	—			(57		)
Long-term deferred tax assets	254			216
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	(1,116		)	(1,813		)
Total	$	(862	)	$	(607	)

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets for Various Tax Credit Carryforwards

As of October 31, 2016, HP 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	$	6	$	—		2022
U.S. R&D and other credits	2		—			2017
Tax credits in state and foreign jurisdictions	256		(137		)	2017
Balance at end of year	$	264	$	(137	)

Schedule of Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance and Changes

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	$	7,114		$	8,231		$	8,196
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,421			(2,183		)	(14		)
Other comprehensive income, currency translation and charges to other accounts	(15		)	1,066			49
Balance at end of year	$	8,520		$	7,114		$	8,231