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Tax Matters
 3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Tax Matters Tax Matters

A. Taxes on Income from Continuing Operations

Our effective tax rate for continuing operations was 20.8% for the first quarter of 2017, compared to 14.4% for the first quarter of 2016.
The higher effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2017 in comparison with the same period in 2016 was primarily due to:
•
the non-recurrence of benefits related to the final resolution of an agreement in principle reached in February 2016 and finalized in April 2016 to resolve certain claims related to Protonix, which resulted in the receipt of information that raised our initial assessment in 2015 of the likelihood of prevailing on the technical merits of our tax position;
•
the non-recurrence of benefits associated with our Venezuela operations;
•
a decrease in benefits associated with the resolution of certain tax positions pertaining to prior years primarily with various foreign tax authorities, and the expiration of certain statutes of limitations; as well as
•
the tax impact on an incremental charge to amounts previously recorded to write down the HIS net assets to fair value less costs to sell related to the sale of HIS net assets to ICU Medical,
partially offset by:
•
the change in the jurisdictional mix of earnings as a result of operating fluctuations in the normal course of business.
B. Tax Contingencies

We are subject to income tax in many jurisdictions, and a certain degree of estimation is required in recording the assets and liabilities related to income taxes. All of our tax positions are subject to audit by the local taxing authorities in each tax jurisdiction. These tax audits can involve complex issues, interpretations and judgments and the resolution of matters may span multiple years, particularly if subject to negotiation or litigation. Our assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but our estimates of unrecognized tax benefits and potential tax benefits may not be representative of actual outcomes, and variation from such estimates could materially affect our financial statements in the period of settlement or when the statutes of limitations expire, as we treat these events as discrete items in the period of resolution.
The U.S. is one of our major tax jurisdictions, and we are regularly audited by the IRS:
•
With respect to Pfizer, the IRS has issued a Revenue Agent’s Report (RAR) for tax years 2009-2010. We are not in agreement with the RAR and are currently appealing certain disputed issues. Tax years 2011-2013 are currently under audit. Tax years 2014-2017 are open, but not under audit. All other tax years are closed.
•
With respect to Hospira, the IRS is currently auditing tax years 2012-2013 and 2014 through short-year 2015. All other tax years are closed. The tax years under audit for Hospira are not considered material to Pfizer.
•
With respect to Anacor and Medivation, the open tax years are not considered material to Pfizer.
In addition to the open audit years in the U.S., we have open audit years in other major tax jurisdictions, such as Canada (2010-2017), Japan (2015-2017), Europe (2011-2017, primarily reflecting Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and Germany), Latin America (1998-2017, primarily reflecting Brazil) and Puerto Rico (2010-2017).
C. Tax Provision/(Benefit) on Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
The following table provides the components of Tax provision/(benefit) on other comprehensive income/(loss):
 
 
Three Months Ended
(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
 
April 2,
2017

 
April 3,
2016

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net(a)
 
$
(21
)
 
$
(14
)
Unrealized holding gains/(losses) on derivative financial instruments, net
 
3

 
(36
)
Reclassification adjustments for realized gains
 
(52
)
 
(72
)
 
 
(49
)
 
(108
)
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities, net
 
38

 
17

Reclassification adjustments for realized losses
 
11

 
26

 
 
48

 
43

Benefit plans: actuarial gains, net
 
—

 
—

Reclassification adjustments related to amortization
 
50

 
47

Reclassification adjustments related to settlements, net
 
12

 
9

Other
 
5

 
(1
)
 
 
66

 
55

Benefit plans: prior service costs and other, net
 
—

 
—

Reclassification adjustments related to amortization
 
(17
)
 
(15
)
Reclassification adjustments related to curtailments, net
 
(3
)
 
(2
)
Other
 
—

 
1

 
 
(19
)
 
(16
)
Tax provision/(benefit) on other comprehensive income/(loss)
 
$
25

 
$
(41
)

(a) 
Taxes are not provided for foreign currency translation adjustments relating to investments in international subsidiaries that will be held indefinitely.