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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$D2011Q1http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0fslr_IncomeTaxesAbstractfslrfalsenadurationIncome Taxes note.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringIncome Taxes note.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">16. Income Taxes</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Our effective tax rates were </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">12.8%</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> and </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;">11.8%</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> for the three months ended </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">March 31, 2011</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> and </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">March 27, 2010</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">, respectively. Our estimated annual effective tax rate was higher during the three months ended </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">March 31, 2011</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> compared with the three months ended </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">March 27, 2010</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> mainly due to a </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">$62.4 million</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> decrease in pre-tax income and a greater percentage of profits earned in jurisdictions with higher tax rates. The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal rate primarily due to the benefit associated with foreign income taxed at lower rates and the beneficial impact of the Malaysian tax holiday.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Our Malaysian subsidiary has been granted a long-term tax holiday that expires in 2027. The tax holiday, which generally provides for a </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">100% exemption from Malaysian income tax</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">, is conditional upon our continued compliance in meeting certain employment and investment thresholds. During 2010, in connection with the expansion of our Malaysian manufacturing operations, we were granted an extension of the previously approved tax holiday by three years, contingent upon meeting additional investment requirements.</font></div></div>16. Income Taxes  Our effective tax rates were 12.8% and 11.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and March 27, 2010, respectively.falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription containing the entire income tax disclosure. Examples 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. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Article 4
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 136, 172
Reference 3: 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
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