2.4.0.8010801 - Disclosure - Income Taxestruefalsefalse1false falsefalseFROM_Jan01_2013_TO_Jun30_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001163348duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse008. INCOME TAXES Under Swiss law, a resident company is subject to income tax at the federal, cantonal and communal levels that is levied on net income. Income attributable to permanent establishments or real estate located abroad is excluded from the Swiss tax base. Allied World Switzerland is a holding company and, therefore, is exempt from cantonal and communal income tax. As a result, Allied World Switzerland is subject to Swiss income tax only at the federal level. Allied World Switzerland is a resident of the Canton of Zug and, as such, is subject to an annual cantonal and communal capital tax on the taxable equity of Allied World Switzerland. Allied World Switzerland has a Swiss operating company resident in the Canton of Zug. The operating company is subject to federal, cantonal and communal income tax and to annual cantonal and communal capital tax. Under current Bermuda law, Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd (“Allied World Bermuda”) and its Bermuda subsidiaries are not required to pay taxes in Bermuda on either income or capital gains. Allied World Bermuda and Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd have received an assurance from the Bermuda Minister of Finance under the Exempted Undertakings Tax Protection Act 1966 of Bermuda, that in the event of any such taxes being imposed, Allied World Bermuda and Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd will be exempted until March 2035. Certain subsidiaries of Allied World Switzerland file U.S. federal income tax returns and various U.S. state income tax returns, as well as income tax returns in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore. To the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no income tax examinations pending by any tax authority. Management has deemed all material tax positions to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being sustained based on technical merits if challenged. The Company does not expect any material unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months of June 30, 2013. falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 136, 172 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false0Income TaxesfalseIncome TaxesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.awac.com/role/IncomeTaxes12