What's behind Altria's income tax expense swings?

Altria's income tax expense has experienced a significant year-over-year decrease of -138.81% in the latest report period, dropping from $262 million to -$262 million. This substantial drop is primarily attributed to **favorable income tax items and lower litigation costs**.

1. **Favorable Income Tax Items**: Altria has benefited from favorable income tax items, which have contributed to the decrease in income tax expense. This indicates that the company has been able to leverage tax benefits or deductions that have reduced its overall tax liability.
2. **Lower Litigation Costs**: Another factor contributing to the decrease in income tax expense is lower litigation costs. This suggests that Altria has incurred fewer legal expenses related to tax matters, which has positively impacted its income tax expense.

In summary, Altria's income tax expense swings are primarily driven by favorable income tax items and lower litigation costs. These factors, combined with other financial strategies, have resulted in a significant reduction in income tax expense for the company.