Company: NOC
Filing Date: 2025-01-30
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001133421-25-000006
Chunk: 99

Company: NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP /DE/
Filing Date: 2025-01-30
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 99
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illion, which we expect to satisfy with cash on hand. We also had provisions for uncertain tax positions of $1.4 billion, some or all of which could result in future cash payments to various taxing authorities. At this time, we are unable to estimate the timing and amount of any future cash outflows related to these uncertain tax positions. 

Refer to the respective notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information about our share repurchase programs (Note 2), commercial paper, credit facilities and long-term debt (Note 9), standby letters of credit and guarantees (Note 11), future minimum contributions for the company’s pension and OPB plans (Note 12), and lease payment obligations (Note 14). 

Income Tax Matters

During the fourth quarter of 2024, the company entered into an agreed Revenue Agent’s Report (“RAR”) for certain matters related to the company’s 2018-2020 federal income tax returns, largely related to our methods of accounting associated with the timing of revenue recognition and related costs under IRC Section 451(b). The company made a $956 million payment in December 2024, inclusive of associated interest, in connection with the agreed RAR. Refer to Note 6 to the financial statements for further information about our unrecognized tax benefits.

Beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) eliminated the option to deduct research and development expenditures in the current year and requires taxpayers to amortize them over five years pursuant to IRC Section 174. Our 2024 and 2023 cash from operations were reduced for federal estimated tax payments we made related to Section 174 of approximately $350 million and $500 million, respectively. In the future, Congress may consider legislation that would defer the amortization requirement to later years, possibly with retroactive effect. In the meantime, we expect to continue to make additional federal tax payments based on the current Section 174 tax law, which we estimate will reduce our 2025 cash from operations by approximately $230 million. The impact of Section 174 on our cash from operations depends on the amount of research and development expenditures incurred by the company and whether the IRS issues guidance on the provision which differs from our current interpretation, among other things.

Cash Flow Measures

In addition to our cash position, we consider various cash flow measures in capital deployment decision-making, including cash provided by operating activities and adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure described in more detail below.

Operating Cash Flow

The