Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Taxes [Line Items]

Schedule for the components of income tax expense

Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2017			2016		2015
Current Expense (Benefit):
Federal	$	2,411		$	3,190	$	3,210
State	277			480		570
Foreign	389			194		221
	3,077			3,864		4,001
Deferred Expense (Benefit):
Federal	(10,659		)	1,192		890
State	10			154		66
Foreign	(6		)	98		2
	(10,655		)	1,444		958
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	(7,578	)	$	5,308	$	4,959

Schedule of items that effect income tax expense

Our income tax expense (benefit) differs from the federal statutory amount because of the effect of the items detailed in the table below.

Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2017			2016			2015
Federal tax at statutory rate	$	5,363		$	5,024		$	4,680
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	298			373			326
Foreign income taxes, net of federal credit	70			65			13
Nontaxable income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(45		)	(128		)	(69		)
Adjustments to uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net	(62		)	24			15
Accrued interest on uncertain and effectively settled tax positions, net	3			17			73
Excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation	(297		)	—			—
2017 federal tax reform enactment	(12,679		)	—			—
Other	(229		)	(67		)	(79		)
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	(7,578	)	$	5,308		$	4,959

Schedule of the components of net deferred tax liability

Components of Net Deferred Tax Liability
December 31 (in millions)	2017		2016(a)
Deferred Tax Assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	481	$	544
Nondeductible accruals and other	2,026		3,797
Less: Valuation allowance	377		266
	2,130		4,075
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment and intangible assets	25,154		36,957
Differences between book and tax basis of investments	466		498
Differences between book and tax basis of long-term debt	673		571
Differences between book and tax basis of foreign subsidiaries and undistributed foreign earnings	39		862
	26,332		38,888
Net deferred tax liability	$	24,202	$	34,813

Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
(in millions)	2017			2016(a)			2015(a)
Gross unrecognized tax benefits, January 1	$	1,443		$	1,441		$	1,455
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	121			74			67
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	319			72			98
Additions from acquired subsidiaries	—			13			—
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(251		)	(66		)	(101		)
Reductions due to expiration of statutes of limitations	(70		)	(44		)	(41		)
Settlements with tax authorities	(65		)	(47		)	(37		)
Gross unrecognized tax benefits, December 31	1,497			1,443			1,441
Positions paid	(688		)	(340		)	(305		)
Liability for uncertain tax positions	$	809		$	1,103		$	1,136

(a) We have updated the presentation of the table above to include amounts related to positions previously paid and have updated prior year amounts to conform.

NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]

Income Taxes [Line Items]

Schedule for the components of income tax expense

Components of Income Tax Expense
Year ended December 31 (in millions)	2017			2016		2015
Foreign
Current income tax expense	$	201		$	38	$	81
Deferred income tax expense	(7		)	96		2
Withholding tax expense	187			158		139
U.S. domestic tax expense	11			13		5
Income tax expense	$	392		$	305	$	227