Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Unaudited Interim Financial Information The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations have been included. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. As such, the information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company but does not include all the disclosures required by GAAP. Investments in Marketable Securities Investments in marketable securities are classified as either trading or available-for-sale and measured at fair market value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in other (income) expense, net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in other (income) expense, net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Unrealized gains and losses, net of deferred income taxes, on available-for-sale securities are included in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) component of shareholders’ deficit until realized. Any gains or losses from the sales of investments or other-than-temporary declines in fair value are computed by specific identification. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Accounting pronouncement adopted In November 2015, the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance which removed the requirement that deferred income tax assets and liabilities be classified as either current or non-current in a classified statement of financial position and instead requires deferred income tax assets and liabilities to be classified as non-current. The Company adopted this new accounting guidance prospectively on January 1, 2016. Accounting pronouncements being evaluated In March 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements, and the classification of excess income tax benefits on the statement of cash flows. The Company expects to adopt this new accounting guidance as required on January 1, 2017. Under the new accounting guidance, excess income tax benefits related to share-based awards will be reflected as a reduction of income tax expense on the statements of income and as cash provided from operating activities. Under existing guidance, these tax benefits are reflected directly in additional paid-in capital and as cash provided from financing activities. The Company recognized $5.1 million of such income tax benefits in the six months ended June 30, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of this new accounting guidance to impact the recognition of its share-based compensation expense or its presentation of cash flows related to employee taxes paid for withheld shares. In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which requires lessees to recognize almost all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. The income statement will reflect lease expense for operating leases, and amortization and interest expense for financing leases. The new accounting guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which modifies how entities measure equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities. The new accounting guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption of the presentation guidance is permitted; however, early adoption of the recognition and measurement guidance is not permitted. The adoption of this new accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued a converged standard on the recognition of revenue from contracts with clients. The objective of the new standard is to establish a single comprehensive revenue recognition model that is designed to create greater comparability of financial statements across industries and jurisdictions. Under the new standard, companies will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to clients in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also will require expanded disclosures on revenue recognition including information about changes in assets and liabilities that result from contracts with clients. The new standard allows for either a retrospective or prospective approach to transition upon adoption. The new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements, the date of adoption, and the transition approach to implement the new standard.

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations have been included. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016. As such, the information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company but does not include all the disclosures required by GAAP.

Investments in Marketable Securities

Investments in marketable securities are classified as either trading or available-for-sale and measured at fair market value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in other (income) expense, net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in other (income) expense, net on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Unrealized gains and losses, net of deferred income taxes, on available-for-sale securities are included in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) component of shareholders’ deficit until realized. Any gains or losses from the sales of investments or other-than-temporary declines in fair value are computed by specific identification.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Accounting pronouncement adopted

In November 2015, the United States Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance which removed the requirement that deferred income tax assets and liabilities be classified as either current or non-current in a classified statement of financial position and instead requires deferred income tax assets and liabilities to be classified as non-current. The Company adopted this new accounting guidance prospectively on January 1, 2016.

Accounting pronouncements being evaluated

In March 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements, and the classification of excess income tax benefits on the statement of cash flows. The Company expects to adopt this new accounting guidance as required on January 1, 2017. Under the new accounting guidance, excess income tax benefits related to share-based awards will be reflected as a reduction of income tax expense on the statements of income and as cash provided from operating activities. Under existing guidance, these tax benefits are reflected directly in additional paid-in capital and as cash provided from financing activities. The Company recognized $5.1 million of such income tax benefits in the six months ended June 30, 2016. The Company does not expect the adoption of this new accounting guidance to impact the recognition of its share-based compensation expense or its presentation of cash flows related to employee taxes paid for withheld shares.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which requires lessees to recognize almost all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. The income statement will reflect lease expense for operating leases, and amortization and interest expense for financing leases. The new accounting guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which modifies how entities measure equity investments and present changes in the fair value of financial liabilities. The new accounting guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption of the presentation guidance is permitted; however, early adoption of the recognition and measurement guidance is not permitted. The adoption of this new accounting guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued a converged standard on the recognition of revenue from contracts with clients. The objective of the new standard is to establish a single comprehensive revenue recognition model that is designed to create greater comparability of financial statements across industries and jurisdictions. Under the new standard, companies will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to clients in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also will require expanded disclosures on revenue recognition including information about changes in assets and liabilities that result from contracts with clients. The new standard allows for either a retrospective or prospective approach to transition upon adoption. The new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard on its consolidated financial statements, the date of adoption, and the transition approach to implement the new standard.