Non-Current Liabilities

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

Exxon Mobil Unrecognized Tax Benefits increased by 2.4% to $4.13B in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 2.4%, from $4.04B to $4.13B. Over 5 years (FY 2020 to FY 2025), Unrecognized Tax Benefits shows a downward trend with a -14.0% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.

Analysis

StatementBalance Sheet Statement
SectionNon-Current Liabilities
CategoryRisk
SignalLower is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ4 2017
Last reportedQ4 2025Feb 18, 2026

How to read this metric

A decrease generally signals the resolution of tax audits or the expiration of statutes of limitations, while an increase suggests new tax planning risks.

Detailed definition

This represents the cumulative amount of tax benefits from uncertain tax positions that have not been recognized in the...

Peer comparison

Standard for multinational corporations; peers with complex global tax structures often carry significant balances in this category.

Metric ID: unrecognized_tax_benefits

Historical Data

5 periods
 Q4 '21Q4 '22Q4 '23Q4 '24Q4 '25
Value$9.13B$3.40B$3.94B$4.04B$4.13B
QoQ Change-62.8%+15.8%+2.5%+2.4%
YoY Change-62.8%+15.8%+2.5%+2.4%
Range$3.40B$9.13B
CAGR-54.8%
Avg YoY Growth-10.5%
Median YoY Growth+2.5%
Current Streak3 quarters growth

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Exxon Mobil's unrecognized tax benefits?
Exxon Mobil (XOM) reported unrecognized tax benefits of $4.13B in Q4 2025.
How has Exxon Mobil's unrecognized tax benefits changed year-over-year?
Exxon Mobil's unrecognized tax benefits increased by 2.4% year-over-year, from $4.04B to $4.13B.
What is the long-term trend for Exxon Mobil's unrecognized tax benefits?
Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), Exxon Mobil's unrecognized tax benefits has grown at a -14.0% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $8.76B to $4.13B.
What does unrecognized tax benefits mean?
The amount of potential tax savings that the company has not yet claimed because the outcome is uncertain.