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Taxes on Earnings
 9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2025
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Taxes on Earnings Taxes on Earnings
Benefit (Provision) for Taxes
For the three months ended July 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded income tax benefit of $17 million and income tax expense of $96 million, respectively, which reflects an effective tax rate of (6.5)% and 15.8%, respectively. For the nine months ended July 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded income tax expense of $94 million and $323 million, respectively, which reflects an effective tax rate of (359.9)% and 21.0%, respectively. For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2025 and the three months ended July 31, 2024 the effective tax rate generally differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate of
21.0% due to favorable tax rates associated with certain earnings from the Company’s operations in lower tax jurisdictions throughout the world but is also impacted by discrete tax adjustments during each fiscal period. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended July 31, 2025 also included the effects of the non-deductible goodwill impairment.
For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2025, the Company recorded $106 million and $217 million of net income tax benefits, respectively, related to various items discrete to the period. For the three months ended July 31, 2025, this amount primarily included $76 million of net income tax benefits related to the release of certain state valuation allowances and $21 million of net income tax benefits related to costs incurred as a result of the Merger, and $4 million of net income tax benefits related to acquisition, disposition and other related charges. For the nine months ended July 31, 2025, this amount primarily included $76 million of net income tax benefits related to the release of certain state valuation allowances, $33 million of net income tax benefits related to the cost reduction program, $33 million of net income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of non-U.S. tax litigation matters, $30 million of net excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation, $29 million of net income tax benefits related to costs incurred as a result of the Merger, $16 million of net income tax benefits related to the settlement of U.S. tax audit matters, and $9 million of net income tax benefits related to acquisition, disposition and other related charges, partially offset by $22 million of net income tax charges resulting from the gain on the Communications Technology Group (“CTG”) divestiture.
For the three and nine months ended July 31, 2024, the Company recorded immaterial net income tax benefits related to various items discrete to the period.
Uncertain Tax Positions
As of July 31, 2025 and October 31, 2024, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $485 million and $724 million, respectively, of which up to $345 million and $344 million, respectively, would affect the Company's effective tax rate if realized as of their respective periods. During the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company effectively settled with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") regarding its audit of the Company’s fiscal 2017 through 2019 U.S. federal income tax returns, resulting in a reduction in the Company's unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $340 million; however, the effective settlement did not result in a material impact to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings and Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The resolution of the audit resulted in the release of tax reserves that were predominantly related either to adjustments to foreign tax credits that carried a full valuation allowance or to the timing of intercompany royalty revenue recognition, neither of which affected the Company’s effective tax rate. Unrecognized tax benefits increased $111 million due to the Merger.

For tax liabilities pertaining to unrecognized tax benefits, the Company recognizes interest income from favorable settlements and interest expense and penalties in Benefit (provision) for taxes in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings. The Company recognized $7 million of interest income for the nine months ended July 31, 2025 and the interest expense was not material for the nine months ended July 31, 2024. The increase in interest income resulted from the favorable resolution of non-U.S. tax litigation matters, partially offset with the addition of interest accrued on unrecognized tax benefits due to the Merger. As of July 31, 2025 and October 31, 2024, the Company had accrued $52 million and $58 million, respectively, for interest and penalties in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company engages in continuous discussion and negotiation with tax authorities regarding tax matters in various jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal tax audits for years prior to 2020. The IRS is conducting audits of the Company's fiscal 2020 through 2022 U.S. federal income tax returns. Tax years of Juniper Networks through 2018 have been audited by the IRS, and Juniper Networks is not currently under examination by the IRS for other tax years. The Company does not expect complete resolution of any IRS audit cycle within the next 12 months. With respect to major state and foreign tax jurisdictions, the Company is no longer subject to tax authority examinations for years prior to 2005. It is reasonably possible that certain foreign tax issues may be concluded in the next 12 months, including issues involving resolution of certain intercompany transactions and other matters. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that its existing unrecognized tax benefits may be reduced by an amount up to $58 million within the next 12 months.
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
Deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:
 As of
 July 31, 2025October 31, 2024
 In millions
Deferred tax assets$2,477 $2,396 
Deferred tax liabilities(428)(373)
Deferred tax assets net of deferred tax liabilities$2,049 $2,023 
Net deferred tax assets increased $26 million as a result of discrete tax benefits from the release of certain state valuation allowances of $76 million and the settlement of U.S. tax audit matters of $16 million, which were partially offset by a decrease of $65 million due to the Merger.