Alcoa 2011 Annual Report Download - page 83

expense recorded in 2011, 2010, and 2009 was $83 ($56 after-tax), $84 ($57 after-tax), and $87 ($58 after-tax),
respectively. Of this amount, $18, $19, and $21 in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively, pertains to the acceleration of
expense related to retirement-eligible employees.
Most plan participants can choose whether to receive their award in the form of stock options, stock awards, or a
combination of both. This choice is made before the grant is issued and is irrevocable.
Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for
income taxes. Under this approach, the provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable (or received
or receivable) for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes represent the future
tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid, and result
from differences between the financial and tax bases of Alcoa’s assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax
rates and tax laws when enacted.
Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will
not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, management considers all potential sources of taxable
income, including income available in carryback periods, future reversals of taxable temporary differences, projections
of taxable income, and income from tax planning strategies, as well as all available positive and negative evidence.
Positive evidence includes factors such as a history of profitable operations, projections of future profitability within
the carryforward period, including from tax planning strategies, and the Company’s experience with similar operations.
Existing favorable contracts and the ability to sell products into established markets are additional positive evidence.
Negative evidence includes items such as cumulative losses, projections of future losses, or carryforward periods that
are not long enough to allow for the utilization of a deferred tax asset based on existing projections of income. Deferred
tax assets for which no valuation allowance is recorded may not be realized upon changes in facts and circumstances,
resulting in a future charge to establish a valuation allowance.
Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return are recorded when such
benefits meet a more likely than not threshold. Otherwise, these tax benefits are recorded when a tax position has been
effectively settled, which means that the statute of limitation has expired or the appropriate taxing authority has
completed their examination even though the statute of limitations remains open. Interest and penalties related to
uncertain tax positions are recognized as part of the provision for income taxes and are accrued beginning in the period
that such interest and penalties would be applicable under relevant tax law until such time that the related tax benefits
are recognized.
Related Party Transactions
Alcoa buys products from and sells products to various related companies, consisting of entities in which Alcoa retains
a 50% or less equity interest, at negotiated arms-length prices between the two parties. These transactions were not
material to the financial position or results of operations of Alcoa for all periods presented.
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance
See the Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance section of Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II
Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
See the Recently Issued Accounting Guidance section of Note A to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II
Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
See the Derivatives section of Note X to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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