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Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

v3.8.0.1
Income Taxes
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

(11)听听Income Taxes

On December听22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the 鈥淭ax Act鈥). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including, but not limited to, (1)听reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; (2)听bonus depreciation that will allow for full expensing of qualified property; (3)听creating a new limitation on deductible interest expense; (4)听eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (鈥淎MT鈥) and changing how existing AMT credits can be realized; (5)听changing rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December听31, 2017; (6)听limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation; and (7)听requiring a one-time transition tax on certain unrepatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries that is payable over eight years. The SEC issued guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act. The Company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting is known. To the extent that a company鈥檚 accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements and the Tax Act provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Tax Act enactment date. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in the financial statements, it should continue to apply the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act.

The corporate rate reduction was applied to our inventory of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities which resulted in the net tax benefit in the period ending December听31, 2017. This net tax benefit is a provisional estimate. The Tax Act also provides for a mandatory one-time transition tax on deemed repatriated accumulated earnings and profits of foreign subsidiaries. Liberty estimates that its foreign subsidiaries have accumulated earnings and profits deficits and will not be subject to the transition tax. Based on a continued analysis of the estimate and further guidance and interpretations on the application of the law, additional revisions may occur throughout the allowable measurement period.

Income tax benefit (expense) consists of:

Years听ended听December听31,

听听听听

2017

听听听听

2016

听听听听

2015

amounts听in听millions

Current:

Federal

$

38

(39)

(17)

State and local

(30)

(29)

(17)

Foreign

(9)

听鈥

(1)

(1)

(68)

(35)

Deferred:

Federal

578

(388)

(145)

State and local

(21)

(39)

(30)

Foreign

507

1,064

(427)

(175)

Income tax benefit (expense)

$

1,063

(495)

(210)

Income tax benefit (expense) differs from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% as a result of the following:

Years听ended听December听31,

听听听听

2017

听听听听

2016

听听听听

2015

amounts听in听millions

Computed expected tax benefit (expense)

$

(289)

(497)

(160)

State and local income taxes, net of federal income taxes

(37)

(46)

(1)

Foreign income taxes, net of federal income taxes

听88

听鈥

听鈥

Dividends received deductions

38

11

听2

Taxable dividends not recognized for book purposes

(45)

(11)

听鈥

Federal tax credits

22

67

听鈥

Change in valuation allowance affecting tax expense

212

(1)

(44)

Change in tax rate due to Tax Act

929

听鈥

听鈥

Settlements with tax authorities

253

听鈥

听鈥

Income tax reserves

(22)

听鈥

听鈥

Non-deductible / Non-taxable interest

(60)

听鈥

听鈥

Write-off of tax attributes

(42)

听鈥

听鈥

Other, net

16

(18)

(7)

Income tax benefit (expense)

$

1,063

(495)

(210)

For the year ended December听31, 2017, the significant reconciling items, as noted in the table above, are a net tax benefit for the effect of the changes in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% on deferred taxes, a net tax benefit for a settlement reached by Formula听1 with the U.K. tax authorities and a net tax benefit for the effects of a new U.K. tax law that changed the Company鈥檚 judgment with respect to the future realization of U.K. tax losses.

For the year ended December听31, 2016 the significant reconciling item, as noted in the table above, is state income taxes offset with federal income tax credits claimed by SIRIUS听XM related to research and development activities.

For the year ended December听31, 2015 the significant reconciling item, as noted in the table above, is a $44听million increase in the valuation allowance due to the effect of a tax law change in the District of Columbia (鈥淒.C.鈥) which reduces the future allocation of SIRIUS听XM鈥檚 taxable income in D.C. As a result, SIRIUS听XM expects it will utilize less of its D.C. net operating losses in the future, resulting in a $44听million increase in the valuation allowance offsetting the deferred tax asset for these net operating losses.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities are presented below:

December听31,

听听听听

2017

听听听听

2016

amounts听in听millions

Deferred tax assets:

Net operating and capital loss carryforwards and tax credits

$

1,017

1,381

Accrued stock compensation

88

136

Other accrued liabilities

175

102

Deferred revenue

502

761

Discount on debt

26

听鈥

Other future deductible amounts

22

20

Deferred tax assets

1,830

2,400

Valuation allowance

(112)

(50)

Net deferred tax assets

1,718

2,350

Deferred tax liabilities:

Investments

110

81

Fixed assets

326

330

Intangible assets

2,760

3,961

Discount on debt

听鈥

听3

Deferred tax liabilities

3,196

4,375

Net deferred tax liabilities

$

1,478

2,025

SIRIUS听XM鈥檚 deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in the amounts above although SIRIUS听XM鈥檚 deferred tax assets and liabilities are not offset with Liberty鈥檚 deferred tax assets and liabilities as SIRIUS听XM is not included in the consolidated group tax return of Liberty. Liberty鈥檚 acquisition of a controlling interest in SIRIUS听XM鈥檚 outstanding common stock during January 2013 did not cause a change in control under Section 382 of the Code.

During the year ended December听31, 2017, the听$62听million increase in the Company鈥檚 valuation allowance was primarily driven by a $274听million increase due to the acquisition of Formula听1, partially offset by changes in the valuation allowance affecting tax expense.

At December听31, 2017, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes which, if not utilized to reduce taxable income in future periods, will expire on various dates through 2037. The Company鈥檚 federal net operating loss carryforwards are primarily attributable to those at the SIRIUS听XM level ($1,977听million, 听$415听million tax effected). The Company has U.K. net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes, which have no expiration under current U.K. law.

A reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

December听31,

听听听听

2017

听听听听

2016

2015

amounts听in听millions

Balance at beginning of year

$

304

254

听2

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

(1)

听听听听

(1)

听听听听

听鈥

Increase in tax positions for current year

16

51

听鈥

Increase in tax positions from prior years

37

听鈥

252

Settlements with tax authorities

(423)

听鈥

听鈥

Increase in tax positions from acquisition

432

听鈥

听鈥

Balance at end of year

$

365

304

254

As of December听31, 2017, the Company had recorded tax reserves of $365听million related to unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions. If such tax benefits were to be recognized for financial statement purposes, approximately $257听million dollars would be reflected in the Company鈥檚 tax expense and affect its effective tax rate. We do not currently anticipate that our existing reserves related to uncertain tax positions as of December听31, 2017 will significantly increase or decrease during the twelve-month period ending December听31, 2018; however, various events could cause our current expectations to change in the future. The Company鈥檚 estimate of its unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions requires a high degree of judgment.

As of December听31, 2017, the Company鈥檚 tax years prior to 2014 are closed for federal income tax purposes, and the IRS has completed its examination of the Company鈥檚 2014 through 2016 tax years. The Company鈥檚 tax loss carryforwards from its 2011 through 2015 tax years are still subject to adjustment. The Company鈥檚 2017 tax year is being examined currently as part of the IRS鈥檚 Compliance Assurance Process program. Various states are currently examining the Company鈥檚 prior years state income tax returns. SIRIUS听XM, which does not consolidate with Liberty for income tax purposes, has certain state income tax audits pending.听We do not expect the ultimate disposition of these audits to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

As of December听31, 2017, the Company had less than $1听million dollars in accrued interest and penalties recorded related to uncertain tax positions.