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Related Party Transactions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Related Party Transactions

The companies identified as affiliates of BNSF include Berkshire and its subsidiaries. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company declared and paid cash distributions of $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively, to its parent company. In both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company made tax payments of less than $1 million to Berkshire. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had a payable to Berkshire of $253 million and $21 million, respectively. Uncertain tax positions will affect the payable to Berkshire if and when settled. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had $34 million and $33 million, respectively, payable to Berkshire related to prior year tax audit settlements. 

BNSF engages in various transactions with related parties in the ordinary course of business. The following table summarizes revenues earned by BNSF for services provided to related parties and expenditures to related parties (in millions):
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Revenues
 
$
37

 
$
34

Expenditures
 
$
93

 
$
89

 
 
 
 
 

BNSF owns 17.3 percent of TTX Company (TTX) while other North American railroads own the remaining interest. As BNSF possesses the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the operating and financial policies of TTX, BNSF applies the equity method of accounting to its investment in TTX. The investment in TTX is recorded in other assets. Equity income or losses are recorded in materials and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income. North American railroads pay TTX car hire to use TTX’s freight equipment to serve their customers. BNSF’s car hire expenditures incurred with TTX are included in the table above. BNSF had $620 million and $609 million recognized as investments related to TTX in its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.