Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Deferred tax assets:    
Accounts receivable, principally due to the allowance for doubtful accounts and related reserves for the uncollectible accounts $ 33us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccounts $ 32us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccounts
Inventories, principally due to obsolescence reserves and additional costs of inventories for tax purposes pursuant to the Tax Reform Act of 1986 33us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventory 36us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventory
Allowance for sales returns 41us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsReturnsAndAllowances 39us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsReturnsAndAllowances
Deferred compensation 43us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits 36us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits
Unrecognized federal and state tax benefits 63qvc_DeferredTaxAssetsUnrecognizedFederalandStateTaxBenefits 29qvc_DeferredTaxAssetsUnrecognizedFederalandStateTaxBenefits
Accrued liabilities 82us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities 25us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities
Other 27us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther 36us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Subtotal 322us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross 233us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Valuation allowance (3)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (1)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Total deferred tax assets 319us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet 232us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Deferred tax liabilities:    
Depreciation and amortization (1,222)qvc_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantandEquipmentandIntangibleAssets (1,349)qvc_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantandEquipmentandIntangibleAssets
Cumulative translation of foreign currencies (8)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUnrealizedCurrencyTransactionGains (47)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUnrealizedCurrencyTransactionGains
Total deferred tax liabilities (1,230)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities (1,396)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Net deferred tax liability $ (911)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities $ (1,164)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities