Description of the Business, Basis of Presentation and Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Description of the Business, Basis of Presentation and Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Description of the Business, Basis of Presentation and Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Note 1—Description of the Business, Basis of Presentation and Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements A. Description of the Business TAL International Group, Inc. ("TAL" or the "Company") leases intermodal transportation equipment, primarily maritime containers, and provides maritime container management services, through a worldwide network of offices, third party depots and other facilities. The Company operates in both international and domestic markets. The majority of the Company's business is derived from leasing its containers to shipping line customers through a variety of long-term and short-term contractual lease arrangements. The Company also sells its own containers and containers purchased from third parties for resale. TAL also enters into management agreements with third party container owners under which the Company manages the leasing and selling of containers on behalf of the third party owners. B. Basis of Presentation The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to the accompanying prior period financial statements and notes to conform to the current year's presentation. Effective October 1, 2012, the Company increased the residual value estimates used in its equipment depreciation policy. The increase in estimated residual values resulted in a decrease in depreciation expense of $4.9 million ($3.2 million after tax or $0.10 per fully diluted share) for the first quarter of 2013. Also effective October 1, 2012, the Company revised the estimated depreciation start date used in its leasing equipment depreciation policy. Under the Company's revised estimate, depreciation on leasing equipment begins on the date of initial on-hire. C. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02 ("ASU 2013-02"), Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2013-02 requires the presentation, in one place, of information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. Additionally, ASU 2013-02 requires the presentation of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component for periods in which changes in accumulated other comprehensive income balances are presented. The Company has adopted ASU 2013-02 effective January 1, 2013. The Company's adoption of ASU 2013-02 had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements as it is disclosure-only in nature.

Note 1—Description of the Business, Basis of Presentation and Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

A. Description of the Business

TAL International Group, Inc. ("TAL" or the "Company") leases intermodal transportation equipment, primarily maritime containers, and provides maritime container management services, through a worldwide network of offices, third party depots and other facilities. The Company operates in both international and domestic markets. The majority of the Company's business is derived from leasing its containers to shipping line customers through a variety of long-term and short-term contractual lease arrangements. The Company also sells its own containers and containers purchased from third parties for resale. TAL also enters into management agreements with third party container owners under which the Company manages the leasing and selling of containers on behalf of the third party owners.

B. Basis of Presentation

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to the accompanying prior period financial statements and notes to conform to the current year's presentation.

Effective October 1, 2012, the Company increased the residual value estimates used in its equipment depreciation policy. The increase in estimated residual values resulted in a decrease in depreciation expense of $4.9 million ($3.2 million after tax or $0.10 per fully diluted share) for the first quarter of 2013. Also effective October 1, 2012, the Company revised the estimated depreciation start date used in its leasing equipment depreciation policy. Under the Company's revised estimate, depreciation on leasing equipment begins on the date of initial on-hire.

C. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02 ("ASU 2013-02"), Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2013-02 requires the presentation, in one place, of information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. Additionally, ASU 2013-02 requires the presentation of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component for periods in which changes in accumulated other comprehensive income balances are presented. The Company has adopted ASU 2013-02 effective January 1, 2013. The Company's adoption of ASU 2013-02 had no impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements as it is disclosure-only in nature.