Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	(9) INCOME TAXES We estimate our annual effective tax rate at the end of each quarterly period, and we record the tax effect of certain discrete items, which are unusual or occur infrequently, in the interim period in which they occur, including changes in judgment about deferred tax valuation allowances. In addition, jurisdictions with a projected loss for the year, jurisdictions with a year-to-date loss where no tax benefit can be recognized, and jurisdictions where we are unable to estimate an annual effective tax rate are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. The impact of such an exclusion could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter depending on the mix and timing of actual earnings versus annual projections. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement amount and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax losses and tax credit carryforwards. We record a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets when it is considered more likely than not that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this determination, we are required to give significant weight to evidence that can be objectively verified. It is generally difficult to conclude that a valuation allowance is not needed when there is significant negative evidence, such as cumulative losses in recent years. Forecasts of future taxable income are considered to be less objective than past results. Therefore, cumulative losses weigh heavily in the overall assessment. In addition to considering forecasts of future taxable income, we are also required to evaluate and quantify other possible sources of taxable income in order to assess the realization of our deferred tax assets, namely the reversal of existing deferred tax liabilities, the carry back of losses and credits as allowed under current tax law, and the implementation of tax planning strategies. Evaluating and quantifying these amounts involves significant judgments. Each source of income must be evaluated based on all positive and negative evidence; this evaluation involves assumptions about future activity. Certain taxable temporary differences that are not expected to reverse during the carry forward periods permitted by tax law cannot be considered as a source of future taxable income that may be available to realize the benefit of deferred tax assets. In fiscal year 2015, we reported U.S. pre-tax income, compared to U.S. pre-tax losses in each of the last seven fiscal years. We have not yet been able to establish a sustained level of profitability in the U.S. or other sufficient significant positive evidence to conclude that our U.S. deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. Therefore, we continue to maintain a valuation allowance against most of our U.S. deferred tax assets. It is reasonably possible that by the end of fiscal year 2016, we will establish a sustained level of profitability in the U.S. As a result, we may reverse a significant portion of the $539 million valuation allowance recorded against our U.S. deferred tax assets at March 31, 2015 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016. The reversal would result in a noncash income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The provision for income taxes reported for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2016, and also includes certain discrete items recorded during the period. Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015 was a tax expense of 50.0 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively, as compared to 9.0 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively, for the same periods of fiscal year 2015. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was reduced, when compared to the statutory rate of 35.0 percent, by the utilization of U.S. deferred tax assets which were subject to a valuation allowance and non-U.S. profits subject to a reduced or zero tax rate. Conversely, the effective tax rate was increased due to a discrete expense of $8 million and $73 million recorded in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015, respectively, for excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation deductions allocated directly to contributed capital. The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2015 differs from the same period in fiscal year 2015 primarily due to the difference in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended December 31, 2015 is higher compared to the same period in fiscal 2015 primarily due to the increase in the discrete expense for excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation deductions. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a net increase of $40 million and $57 million, respectively, in gross unrecognized tax benefits. The total gross unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2015 is $311 million. A portion of our unrecognized tax benefits will affect our effective tax rate if they are recognized upon favorable resolution of the uncertain tax positions. As of December 31, 2015, if recognized, approximately $51 million of the unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective tax rate and approximately $260 million would result in adjustments to deferred tax assets with corresponding adjustments to the valuation allowance. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a net decrease of $2 million for accrued interest and penalties related to tax positions taken on our tax returns. As of December 31, 2015, the combined amount of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions included in income tax obligations on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was approximately $14 million. We file income tax returns in the United States, including various state and local jurisdictions. Our subsidiaries file tax returns in various foreign jurisdictions, including Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The IRS is currently examining our returns for fiscal years 2009 through 2011, and we remain subject to income tax examination by the IRS for fiscal years after 2012. We are also currently under income tax examination in the United Kingdom for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. We remain subject to income tax examination for several other jurisdictions including in France for fiscal years after 2012, in Germany for fiscal years after 2012, in the United Kingdom for fiscal years after 2013, and in Canada and Switzerland for fiscal years after 2007. The timing of the resolution of income tax examinations is highly uncertain, and the amounts ultimately paid, if any, upon resolution of the issues raised by the taxing authorities may differ materially from the amounts accrued for each year. Although potential resolution of uncertain tax positions involve multiple tax periods and jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that a reduction of up to $50 million of unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next 12 months, some of which, depending on the nature of the settlement or expiration of statutes of limitations, may affect the Company’s income tax provision and therefore benefit the resulting effective tax rate. The actual amount could vary significantly depending on the ultimate timing and nature of any settlements. On July 27, 2015, the Tax Court issued an opinion (Altera Corp. et al. v. Commissioner) regarding the treatment of stock-based compensation expense in related-party cost-sharing arrangements. At this time, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has not withdrawn its regulations that require the inclusion of stock-based compensation expense in such arrangements. We will continue to monitor developments related to this opinion and the potential impact of these developments on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

(9) INCOME TAXES

We estimate our annual effective tax rate at the end of each quarterly period, and we record the tax effect of certain discrete items, which are unusual or occur infrequently, in the interim period in which they occur, including changes in judgment about deferred tax valuation allowances. In addition, jurisdictions with a projected loss for the year, jurisdictions with a year-to-date loss where no tax benefit can be recognized, and jurisdictions where we are unable to estimate an annual effective tax rate are excluded from the estimated annual effective tax rate. The impact of such an exclusion could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter depending on the mix and timing of actual earnings versus annual projections.

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement amount and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax losses and tax credit carryforwards. We record a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets when it is considered more likely than not that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making this determination, we are required to give significant weight to evidence that can be objectively verified. It is generally difficult to conclude that a valuation allowance is not needed when there is significant negative evidence, such as cumulative losses in recent years. Forecasts of future taxable income are considered to be less objective than past results. Therefore, cumulative losses weigh heavily in the overall assessment.

In addition to considering forecasts of future taxable income, we are also required to evaluate and quantify other possible sources of taxable income in order to assess the realization of our deferred tax assets, namely the reversal of existing deferred tax liabilities, the carry back of losses and credits as allowed under current tax law, and the implementation of tax planning strategies. Evaluating and quantifying these amounts involves significant judgments. Each source of income must be evaluated based on all positive and negative evidence; this evaluation involves assumptions about future activity. Certain taxable temporary differences that are not expected to reverse during the carry forward periods permitted by tax law cannot be considered as a source of future taxable income that may be available to realize the benefit of deferred tax assets.

In fiscal year 2015, we reported U.S. pre-tax income, compared to U.S. pre-tax losses in each of the last seven fiscal years. We have not yet been able to establish a sustained level of profitability in the U.S. or other sufficient significant positive evidence to conclude that our U.S. deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. Therefore, we continue to maintain a valuation allowance against most of our U.S. deferred tax assets. It is reasonably possible that by the end of fiscal year 2016, we will establish a sustained level of profitability in the U.S. As a result, we may reverse a significant portion of the $539 million valuation allowance recorded against our U.S. deferred tax assets at March 31, 2015 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016. The reversal would result in a noncash income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

The provision for income taxes reported for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015 is based on our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2016, and also includes certain discrete items recorded during the period. Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015 was a tax expense of 50.0 percent and 26.8 percent, respectively, as compared to 9.0 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively, for the same periods of fiscal year 2015. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was reduced, when compared to the statutory rate of 35.0 percent, by the utilization of U.S. deferred tax assets which were subject to a valuation allowance and non-U.S. profits subject to a reduced or zero tax rate. Conversely, the effective tax rate was increased due to a discrete expense of $8 million and $73 million recorded in the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015, respectively, for excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation deductions allocated directly to contributed capital. The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2015 differs from the same period in fiscal year 2015 primarily due to the difference in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended December 31, 2015 is higher compared to the same period in fiscal 2015 primarily due to the increase in the discrete expense for excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation deductions.

During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a net increase of $40 million and $57 million, respectively, in gross unrecognized tax benefits. The total gross unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2015 is $311 million. A portion of our unrecognized tax benefits will affect our effective tax rate if they are recognized upon favorable resolution of the uncertain tax positions. As of December 31, 2015, if recognized, approximately $51 million of the unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective tax rate and approximately $260 million would result in adjustments to deferred tax assets with corresponding adjustments to the valuation allowance.

During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015, we recorded a net decrease of $2 million for accrued interest and penalties related to tax positions taken on our tax returns. As of December 31, 2015, the combined amount of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions included in income tax obligations on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet was approximately $14 million.

We file income tax returns in the United States, including various state and local jurisdictions. Our subsidiaries file tax returns in various foreign jurisdictions, including Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The IRS is currently examining our returns for fiscal years 2009 through 2011, and we remain subject to income tax examination by the IRS for fiscal years after 2012.

We are also currently under income tax examination in the United Kingdom for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. We remain subject to income tax examination for several other jurisdictions including in France for fiscal years after 2012, in Germany for fiscal years after 2012, in the United Kingdom for fiscal years after 2013, and in Canada and Switzerland for fiscal years after 2007.

The timing of the resolution of income tax examinations is highly uncertain, and the amounts ultimately paid, if any, upon resolution of the issues raised by the taxing authorities may differ materially from the amounts accrued for each year. Although potential resolution of uncertain tax positions involve multiple tax periods and jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that a reduction of up to $50 million of unrecognized tax benefits may occur within the next 12 months, some of which, depending on the nature of the settlement or expiration of statutes of limitations, may affect the Company’s income tax provision and therefore benefit the resulting effective tax rate. The actual amount could vary significantly depending on the ultimate timing and nature of any settlements.

On July 27, 2015, the Tax Court issued an opinion (Altera Corp. et al. v. Commissioner) regarding the treatment of stock-based compensation expense in related-party cost-sharing arrangements. At this time, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has not withdrawn its regulations that require the inclusion of stock-based compensation expense in such arrangements. We will continue to monitor developments related to this opinion and the potential impact of these developments on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.