含羞草传媒. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Income Taxes [Abstract]

听

Income Taxes

(12)Income Taxes

听

Income tax benefit (expense) consists of:

听

听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听
听	听	Years听ended听December听31,						听
听	听听听听	2015		听听听听	2014	听听听听	2013	听
听	听	amounts听in听millions						听
Current:	听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听
Federal	听	$	(191)	听	(157)	听	(97)	听
State and local	听	听	(26)	听	(32)	听	(26)	听
Foreign	听	听	(74)	听	(110)	听	(82)	听
听	听	$	(291)	听	(299)	听	(205)	听
Deferred:	听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听
Federal	听	$	(67)	听	59	听	(19)	听
State and local	听	听	8	听	(23)	听	47	听
Foreign	听	听	8	听	5	听	(6)	听
听	听	听	(51)	听	41	听	22	听
Income tax benefit (expense)	听	$	(342)	听	(258)	听	(183)	听

听

The following table presents a summary of our domestic and foreign earnings from continuing operations before income taxes:

听

听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听
听	听	Years听ended听December听31,						听
听	听听听听	2015		听听听听	2014	听听听听	2013	听
听	听	amounts听in听millions						听
Domestic	听	$	1,111	听	676	听	575	听
Foreign	听	听	142	听	160	听	162	听
Total	听	$	1,253	听	836	听	737	听

听

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:

听

听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听
听	听	Years听ended听December听31,						听
听	听听听听	2015		听听听听	2014	听听听听	2013	听
听	听	amounts听in听millions						听
Computed expected tax benefit (expense)	听	$	(439)	听	(293)	听	(258)	听
State and local income taxes, net of federal income taxes	听	听	(24)	听	(7)	听	(15)	听
Foreign taxes, net of foreign tax credits	听	听	(4)	听	(2)	听	(7)	听
Sale of consolidated subsidiary	听	听	听鈥�	听	14	听	听鈥�	听
Impairment of intangible assets not deductible for tax purposes	听	听	听鈥�	听	(3)	听	(2)	听
Dividends received deductions	听	听	56	听	10	听	9	听
Alternative energy tax credits	听	听	61	听	58	听	54	听
Change in valuation allowance affecting tax expense	听	听	6	听	(2)	听	(27)	听
Impact of change in state rate on deferred taxes	听	听	(7)	听	(28)	听	66	听
Other, net	听	听	9	听	(5)	听	(3)	听
Income tax benefit (expense)	听	$	(342)	听	(258)	听	(183)	听

Income tax expense was lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35% in 2015 due to the receipt of taxable dividends that are subject to a dividends received deduction. During 2014 and 2013, Liberty changed its estimate of the effective state tax rate used to measure its net deferred tax liabilities, based on expected changes to the Company鈥檚 state apportionment factors. The change in 2014 was caused by the sale of a consolidated subsidiary (Provide) on December 31, 2014.听 The change in state apportionment factors during 2013 also changed the potential utilization of the Company鈥檚 state net operating loss carryforwards, which resulted in a valuation allowance being recorded for certain state net operating loss carryforwards that may expire unused. In both years, the rate change required an adjustment to the recognized deferred taxes at the corporate level.听During 2015, 2014 and 2013, Liberty offset federal tax liabilities with tax credits derived from its alternative energy investments.

听

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:

听

听	听	听	听	听	听	听
听	听	December听31,				听
听	听听听听	2015		听听听听	2014	听
听	听	amounts听in听millions				听
Deferred tax assets:	听	听	听	听	听	听
Net operating and capital loss carryforwards	听	$	99	听	90	听
Foreign tax credit carryforwards	听	听	72	听	88	听
Accrued stock compensation	听	听	83	听	41	听
Other accrued liabilities	听	听	165	听	181	听
Other future deductible amounts	听	听	163	听	96	听
Deferred tax assets	听	听	582	听	496	听
Valuation allowance	听	听	(48)	听	(54)	听
Net deferred tax assets	听	听	534	听	442	听
听	听	听	听	听	听	听
Deferred tax liabilities:	听	听	听	听	听	听
Investments	听	听	883	听	703	听
Intangible assets	听	听	1,788	听	1,284	听
Discount on exchangeable debentures	听	听	1,148	听	1,009	听
Deferred gain on debt retirements	听	听	193	听	257	听
Other	听	听	24	听	10	听
Deferred tax liabilities	听	听	4,036	听	3,263	听
Net deferred tax liabilities	听	$	3,502	听	2,821	听

听

The Company's valuation allowance decreased $6 million in 2015.听听The entire change in valuation allowance affected tax expense.

听

At December 31, 2015, Liberty had net operating losses (on a tax effected basis) and foreign tax credit carryforwards for income tax purposes aggregating approximately $99 million and $72听million, respectively, which听听will begin to expire in 2020 and beyond if not utilized to reduce domestic, state or foreign income tax liabilities in future periods.听听These net operating losses and foreign tax credit carryforwards are expected to be utilized prior to expiration, except for $48 million of net operating losses which based on current projections of domestic, state and foreign income may expire unused.听

听

A reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

听

听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听	听
听	听	Years听ended听December听31,						听
听	听听听听	2015		听听听听	2014	听	2013	听
听	听	amounts听in听millions						听
Balance at beginning of year	听	$	136	听	124	听	122	听
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	听	听	14	听	16	听	19	听
Additions for tax positions of prior years	听	听	听鈥�	听	20	听	1	听
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	听	听	(12)	听	(3)	听	(3)	听
Lapse of statute and settlements	听	听	(34)	听	(21)	听	(15)	听
Balance at end of year	听	$	104	听	136	听	124	听

听

As of December听31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 the Company had recorded tax reserves of $104 million, $136 million and $124 million, respectively, related to unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions.听听If such tax benefits were to be recognized for financial statement purposes, $47 million, $68 million and $84 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, would be reflected in the Company's tax expense and affect its effective tax rate.听听Liberty's estimate of its unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions requires a high degree of judgment. The Company has tax positions for which the amount of related unrecognized tax benefits could change during 2016. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits related to these issues could change as a result of potential settlements, lapsing of statute of limitations and revisions of estimates.听听It is reasonably possible that the amount of the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits may increase within the next twelve months by up to $5 million.

听

As of December听31, 2015, the Company's tax years prior to 2012 are closed for federal income tax purposes, and the IRS has completed its examination of the Company's 2012 and 2013 tax year.听 The Company's tax loss carryforwards from its 2011 through 2014 tax years are still subject to adjustment.听 The Company's 2014 and 2015 tax years are being examined currently as part of the IRS's Compliance Assurance Process ("CAP") program.听 Various states are currently examining the Company's prior years state income tax returns.听 QVC is currently under audit in the U.K., Germany and Italy.听 The Company received an assessment related to an examination in Germany.听 The Company believes that any amounts ultimately paid in connection with that assessment will be creditable against its U.S. federal income tax liability.听听听听听

听

As of December听31, 2015, the Company had recorded $17 million of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.