v3.25.2
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
NOTE 9 - LAWSUITS, CLAIMS, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LEGAL MATTERS
Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries are involved, in the normal course of business, in lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damage or other losses, punitive damages, civil penalties, or injunctive or declaratory relief. Occidental or certain of its subsidiaries also are involved in proceedings under CERCLA and similar federal, regional, state, provincial, tribal, local and international environmental laws. These environmental proceedings seek funding or performance of remediation and, in some cases, compensation for alleged property damage, natural resource damages, punitive damages, civil penalties, injunctive relief and government oversight costs. Usually Occidental or such subsidiaries are among many companies in these environmental proceedings and have to date been successful in sharing remediation costs with other financially sound companies. Further, some lawsuits, claims and legal proceedings involve acquired or divested assets with respect to which a third party or Occidental or its subsidiary retains liability or indemnifies the other party for conditions that existed prior to the transaction.
In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, Occidental or its subsidiaries accrue contingency reserves for outstanding lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the liability can be reasonably estimated. Contingency reserves for matters, other than for tax matters discussed below and environmental matters discussed in Note 8 – Environmental Liabilities and Expenditures, that satisfy these criteria as of June 30, 2025 were not material to Occidental’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.
If unfavorable outcomes of these matters were to occur, future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially adversely affected. Occidental’s estimates are based on information known about the legal matters and its experience in contesting, litigating and settling similar matters. Occidental will reassess the probability and estimability of contingent losses as new information becomes available.
TAX MATTERS AND DISPUTES
During the course of its operations, Occidental is subject to audit by tax authorities for varying periods in various federal, state, local and international tax jurisdictions. Tax years through 2021 for U.S. federal income tax purposes have been audited by the IRS pursuant to its Compliance Assurance Program and subsequent taxable years are currently under review. Tax years through 2018 have been audited for state income tax purposes. There are no outstanding significant audit matters in international jurisdictions. During the course of tax audits, disputes have arisen and other disputes may arise as to facts and matters of law.
For Anadarko, its taxable years through 2014 and tax year 2016 for U.S. federal tax purposes have been audited and closed by the IRS. Tax years 2015 and 2017 through 2019 have been audited by the IRS but remain open pending the outcome of the Tronox U.S. Tax Court litigation discussed below. Tax years through 2010 have been audited for state income tax purposes. There are no outstanding significant audit matters in international jurisdictions. As stated above, during the course of tax audits, disputes have arisen and other disputes may arise as to facts and matters of law.
Other than the dispute discussed below, Occidental believes that the resolution of these outstanding tax disputes would not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Anadarko received an $881 million tentative refund in 2016 related to its $5.2 billion Tronox Adversary Proceeding settlement payment in 2015. In September 2018, Anadarko received a statutory notice of deficiency from the IRS disallowing the net operating loss carryback and rejecting Anadarko’s refund claim. Anadarko disagreed and, in November 2018, filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court to dispute the disallowance. Trial was held in May 2023. The parties filed post-trial briefs throughout 2023 and 2024. Closing arguments were held in May 2024. The Tax Court may issue an opinion at any time. If the Tax Court opines that all or a portion of the original $5.2 billion deduction is not deductible, a computation phase will commence where the parties will compute the tax amount to be included in the Tax Court’s decision. Once the parties submit their computation, the Tax Court will formally enter the decision reflecting the computed tax amount. To pursue an appeal of the Tax Court’s decision, any tax due as a result of the Tax Court’s decision must be fully bonded or paid within 90 days of the decision’s entry. If Anadarko does not pursue an appeal, the IRS will assess any resulting tax deficiency, including interest, and issue a notice demanding payment thereof.
In accordance with ASC 740’s guidance on the accounting for uncertain tax positions, Occidental has recorded no tax benefit on the tentative cash tax refund of $881 million. Additionally, Occidental has recorded no tax benefit on approximately $500 million of additional cash tax benefits realized from the utilization of tax attributes generated as a result of the deduction of the $5.2 billion Tronox Adversary Proceeding settlement payment in 2015. If the payment is ultimately determined not to be deductible, Occidental would be required to repay the tentative refund received, plus other cash benefits received related to the $5.2 billion deduction, plus interest, which as of June 30, 2025 totaled approximately $2.2 billion. As a result, should Occidental not ultimately prevail on the issue, there would be no additional tax expense recorded relative to this position for financial statement purposes other than future interest. However, in that event, as of June 30, 2025, Occidental would be required to repay approximately $1.4 billion in federal and state taxes and accrued interest of $851 million. A liability for the taxes and interest is included in other liabilities.

INDEMNITIES TO THIRD PARTIES
Occidental, its subsidiaries, or both have indemnified various parties against specified liabilities those parties might incur in the future in connection with purchases and other transactions that they have entered into with Occidental or its subsidiaries. These indemnities usually are contingent upon the other party incurring liabilities that reach specified thresholds. As of June 30, 2025, Occidental is not aware of circumstances that it believes would reasonably be expected to lead to indemnity claims that would result in payments materially in excess of reserves.