Facebook Inc. (FB)

Facebook records provision for income taxes for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations using the asset and liability method. Under this method, Facebook recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as well as for loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. Facebook recognizes the deferred income tax effects of a change in tax rates in the period of the enactment.

Facebook records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the net amount that Facebook believes is more likely than not to be realized. Facebook considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance.

Facebook recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if Facebook believes that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. These uncertain tax positions include Facebook’s estimates for transfer pricing that have been developed based upon analyses of appropriate arms-length prices. Similarly, Facebook’s estimates related to uncertain tax positions concerning research tax credits are based on an assessment of whether the available documentation corroborating the nature of the activities supporting the tax credits will be sufficient. Although Facebook believes that Facebook has adequately reserved for the uncertain tax positions (including net interest and penalties), Facebook can provide no assurance that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be materially different. Facebook makes adjustments to these reserves when facts and circumstances change, such as the closing of a tax audit or the refinement of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts recorded, such differences will affect the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made and could have a material impact on Facebook’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

On December 22, 2017, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act) was enacted into law and the new legislation contains several key tax provisions that affected Facebook, including a one-time mandatory transition tax on accumulated foreign earnings and a reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018, among others. Facebook is required to recognize the effect of the tax law changes in the period of enactment, such as determining the transition tax, re-measuring the U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities as well as reassessing the net realizability of the deferred tax assets and liabilities. In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (SAB 118), which allowed Facebook to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date. As a result, Facebook previously provided a provisional estimate of the effect of the Tax Act in the financial statements. In the fourth quarter of 2018, Facebook completed the analysis to determine the effect of the Tax Act and recorded immaterial adjustments as of December 31, 2018.

Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31).

Facebook Inc., income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations

US$ in millions

	12 months ended	Dec 31, 2018		Dec 31, 2017		Dec 31, 2016		Dec 31, 2015		Dec 31, 2014
	Federal
	State
	Foreign
	Current tax expense
	Federal
	State
	Foreign
	Deferred tax expense (benefits)
	Provision for income taxes

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

Facebook Inc., effective income tax rate (EITR) reconciliation

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	U.S. federal statutory income tax rate
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit
	Research tax credits
	Share-based compensation
	Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation
	Effect of non-U.S. operations
	Effect of U.S. tax law change
	Other
	Effective tax rate

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

Facebook Inc., components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

US$ in millions

		Dec 31, 2018		Dec 31, 2017		Dec 31, 2016		Dec 31, 2015		Dec 31, 2014
	Net operating loss carryforward
	Tax credit carryforward
	Share-based compensation
	Accrued expenses and other liabilities
	Other
	Deferred tax assets
	Valuation allowance
	Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
	Depreciation and amortization
	Purchased intangible assets
	Deferred taxes on foreign income
	Deferred tax liabilities
	Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

Facebook Inc., adjustments to financial data

US$ in millions

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Adjustment to Total Liabilities
	Total liabilities (as reported)
	Less: Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities, net
	Total liabilities (adjusted)
	Adjustment to Stockholders’ Equity
	Stockholders’ equity (as reported)
	Less: Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
	Stockholders’ equity (adjusted)
	Adjustment to Net Income
	Net income (as reported)
	Add: Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
	Net income (adjusted)

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

Facebook Inc., Financial Data: Reported vs. Adjusted

Facebook Inc., adjusted ratios

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Net Profit Margin
	Reported net profit margin
	Adjusted net profit margin
	Financial Leverage
	Reported financial leverage
	Adjusted financial leverage
	Return on Equity (ROE)
	Reported ROE
	Adjusted ROE
	Return on Assets (ROA)
	Reported ROA
	Adjusted ROA

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

Facebook Inc., Ratios: Reported vs. Adjusted

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Net income
	Revenue
	Ratio
	Net profit margin1
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Adjusted net income
	Revenue
	Ratio
	Adjusted net profit margin2

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

2018 Calculations

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Total assets
	Stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	Financial leverage1
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Total assets
	Adjusted stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	Adjusted financial leverage2

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

2018 Calculations

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Net income
	Stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	ROE1
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Adjusted net income
	Adjusted stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	Adjusted ROE2

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

2018 Calculations

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Net income
	Total assets
	Ratio
	ROA1
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Adjusted net income
	Total assets
	Ratio
	Adjusted ROA2

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-01), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-03), 10-K (filing date: 2016-01-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-01-29).

2018 Calculations