Unrecognized tax benefits
International Business Machines Unrecognized tax benefits decreased by 25.0% to $6.66B in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 25.0%, from $8.88B to $6.66B. Over 5 years (FY 2020 to FY 2025), Unrecognized tax benefits shows a downward trend with a -4.9% CAGR. This is a positive signal — lower values indicate better performance for this metric.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase suggests more aggressive tax positions or increased scrutiny from tax authorities, while a decrease indicates resolution of tax uncertainties.
Detailed definition
Represents the total amount of tax benefits that have been taken or are expected to be taken in tax returns but have not...
Peer comparison
Standard disclosure for large multinational corporations; peers with complex global tax structures typically report significant balances.
other_unrecognized_tax_benefitsHistorical Data
| Q4 '21 | Q4 '22 | Q4 '23 | Q4 '24 | Q4 '25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $8.71B | $8.73B | $8.77B | $8.88B | $6.66B |
| QoQ Change | — | +0.2% | +0.5% | +1.2% | -25.0% |
| YoY Change | — | +0.2% | +0.5% | +1.2% | -25.0% |
Unrecognized tax benefits at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is International Business Machines's unrecognized tax benefits?
- International Business Machines (IBM) reported unrecognized tax benefits of $6.66B in Q4 2025.
- How has International Business Machines's unrecognized tax benefits changed year-over-year?
- International Business Machines's unrecognized tax benefits decreased by 25.0% year-over-year, from $8.88B to $6.66B.
- What is the long-term trend for International Business Machines's unrecognized tax benefits?
- Over 5 years (2020 to 2025), International Business Machines's unrecognized tax benefits has grown at a -4.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $8.57B to $6.66B.
- What does unrecognized tax benefits mean?
- The total value of tax positions taken that are not yet fully recognized in financial reporting due to uncertainty.