Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Income Taxes (Details)
$ / shares in Units, ¥ in Millions, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 25, 2016
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 27, 2015
CNY (¥)
Sep. 27, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
Current provision (benefit):        
Federal $ 72 $ 4   $ (67)
State 3 4   4
Foreign 1,256 1,411   1,307
Current Income tax provision 1,331 1,419   1,244
Deferred (benefit) provision:        
Federal (586) (184)   (9)
State 4 6   1
Foreign (194) (110)   (17)
Deferred Income Tax (benefit) (776) (288)   (25)
Income Tax provision 555 1,131   1,219
Components of income before income taxes        
United States (762) 3,032   2,993
Foreign 3,782 3,801   3,494
Income before income taxes 3,020 6,833   6,487
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]        
Expected income tax provision at federal statutory tax rate 1,057 2,392   2,270
State income tax provision, net of federal benefit 8 19   18
Foreign income taxed at other than U.S. rates (963) (1,068)   (937)
Research and development tax credits (81) (143)   (148)
Worthless stock deduction of domestic subsidiary 0 (101)   0
Nondeductible charges related to the KFTC and TFTC investigations 363 0   0
Impact of changes in tax reserves and audit settlements for prior year tax positions 111 0   (61)
Other 60 32   77
Income Tax provision $ 555 1,131   1,219
Tax benefit as a result of R&D tax credit reinstatement related to prior years   79   101
Resolution of governmental investigation, Amount     ¥ 6,088 975
Tax benefit as a result of a favorable tax audit settlement with Internal Revenue Service       61
Income Tax Holiday [Abstract]        
Income Tax Holiday, Description The Company’s QCT segment’s non-United States headquarters is located in Singapore. The Company has obtained tax incentives in Singapore that commenced in March 2012, which are effective through March 2027, that result in a tax exemption for the first five years provided that the Company meets specified employment and investment criteria. As a result of the expiration of certain of these incentives, the Company’s Singapore tax rate increased in fiscal 2017 and will increase again in fiscal 2027 upon the expiration of the remaining incentives.      
Additional income tax expense $ 493 $ 487   $ 656
Reduction to diluted earnings per share | $ / shares $ 0.33 $ 0.32   $ 0.40
Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized, Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries [Abstract]        
Unrecognized deferred tax liability related to undistributed earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries $ 13,700      
Undistributed earnings of certain non-United States subsidiaries 39,000      
Deferred Tax Assets        
Unused tax credits 1,798 $ 1,256    
Accrued liabilities and reserves 888 409    
Unearned revenues 886 920    
Share-based compensation 241 277    
Unused net operating losses 208 218    
Unrealized losses on other investments and marketable securities 151 254    
Other 21 55    
Total gross deferred tax assets 4,193 3,389    
Valuation allowance 863 754    
Total net deferred tax assets 3,330 2,635    
Deferred Tax Liabilities        
Intangible assets (535) (502)    
Unrealized gains on other investments and marketable securities (33) (194)    
Other (95) (78)    
Total deferred tax liabilities (663) (774)    
Net deferred tax assets 2,667 1,861    
Reported as:        
Non-current deferred tax assets 2,900 2,030    
Non-current deferred tax liabilities (1) [1] (233) (169)    
Net deferred tax assets 2,667 1,861    
Changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits: [Roll Forward]        
Beginning balance of unrecognized tax benefits 271 40   $ 87
Additions based on prior year tax positions 92 20   31
Reductions for prior year tax positions and lapse in statute of limitations (11) (6)   (70)
Additions for current year tax positions 23 218   5
Settlements with taxing authorities (3) (1)   (13)
Ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits 372 271   40
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate 289      
Income Taxes Paid, Net [Abstract]        
Cash paid for income taxes 1,000 $ 1,300   $ 1,200
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]        
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Operating Loss Carryforwards 245      
Unused Income Tax Credits $ 1,000      
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member]        
Income Taxes [Line Items]        
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date Sep. 28, 2025      
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date Sep. 26, 2021      
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Latest Tax Year [Member]        
Income Taxes [Line Items]        
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date Sep. 27, 2037      
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date Sep. 24, 2035      
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]        
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Operating Loss Carryforwards $ 858      
Unused Income Tax Credits 763      
State tax credit, Valuation allowance 752      
Operating losses, Valuation allowance $ 42      
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Indefinite [Member]        
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Tax Credit Carry Forward, Expiration Date Indefinite      
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member]        
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date Sep. 23, 2018      
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Latest Tax Year [Member]        
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date Sep. 27, 2037      
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]        
Deferred Tax Assets        
Valuation allowance $ 69      
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Operating Loss Carryforwards 215      
Unused Income Tax Credits $ 28      
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Earliest Tax Year [Member]        
Income Taxes [Line Items]        
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date Sep. 25, 2033      
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Latest Tax Year [Member]        
Income Taxes [Line Items]        
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date Sep. 27, 2037      
KFTC [Member]        
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]        
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period $ 927      
TFTC [Member]        
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]        
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period $ 778      
[1] Non-current deferred tax liabilities were included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.