Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	INCOME TAXES Income tax provisions for interim (quarterly) periods are based on estimated annual income taxes calculated separately from the effect of significant infrequent or unusual items. Income tax represented a benefit of $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to a benefit of $45 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in the income tax benefits in the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the prior period was primarily due to the release of a $40 million valuation allowance in the three months ended September 30, 2010 that was no longer required on specific deferred tax assets in NCR's subsidiary in Japan. Additionally, the change in tax benefit is driven by a change in pre-tax income over the prior year, the mix of jurisdictions with income and losses and changes in uncertain tax positions. Income tax represented expense of $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to a benefit of $35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in the income tax expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the prior period was primarily due to the release of a $40 million valuation allowance in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 that was no longer required on specific deferred tax assets in NCR's subsidiary in Japan. Additionally, the change in tax expense is driven by a change in pre-tax income over the prior year, the mix of jurisdictions with income and losses and changes in uncertain tax positions.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

INCOME TAXES

Income tax provisions for interim (quarterly) periods are based on estimated annual income taxes calculated separately from the effect of significant infrequent or unusual items. Income tax represented a benefit of $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to a benefit of $45 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The decrease in the income tax benefits in the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the prior period was primarily due to the release of a $40 million valuation allowance in the three months ended September 30, 2010 that was no longer required on specific deferred tax assets in NCR's subsidiary in Japan. Additionally, the change in tax benefit is driven by a change in pre-tax income over the prior year, the mix of jurisdictions with income and losses and changes in uncertain tax positions. Income tax represented expense of $8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to a benefit of $35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in the income tax expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the prior period was primarily due to the release of a $40 million valuation allowance in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 that was no longer required on specific deferred tax assets in NCR's subsidiary in Japan. Additionally, the change in tax expense is driven by a change in pre-tax income over the prior year, the mix of jurisdictions with income and losses and changes in uncertain tax positions.