Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]

The impact of all adjustments made to the financial statements presented is summarized below (amounts in millions, except per share data):

In millions, except per share amounts	2012					2011						2010
	Previously Reported			Adjusted		Previously Reported			Adjusted			Previously Reported			Adjusted
Consolidated Statements of Operations:
Cost of products	$	2,177		$	2,144	$	2,011		$	2,022		$	1,799		$	1,789
Cost of services	2,208			1,941		2,098			2,318			1,922			1,845
Selling, general and administrative expenses	894			742		794			890			685			636
Research and development expenses	219			155		176			209			156			143
Total operating expenses	5,498			4,982		5,079			5,439			4,562			4,413
Income (loss) from operations	232			748		212			(148		)	149			298
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	182			698		196			(164		)	136			285
Income tax expense (benefit)	42			223		51			(66		)	(11		)	5
Income (loss) from continuing operations	140			475		145			(98		)	147			280
Net income (loss)	146			481		52			(191		)	137			270
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	$	146		$	481	$	53		$	(190	)	$	134		$	267
Amounts attributable to NCR common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	140			475		146			(97		)	144			277
Income (loss) per share attributable to NCR common stockholders:
Income (loss) per common share from continuing operations
Basic	$	0.88		$	2.98	$	0.92		$	(0.61	)	$	0.90		$	1.73
Diluted	$	0.85		$	2.90	$	0.91		$	(0.61	)	$	0.89		$	1.72
Net income (loss) per common share
Basic	$	0.92		$	3.02	$	0.34		$	(1.20	)	$	0.84		$	1.67
Diluted	$	0.89		$	2.94	$	0.33		$	(1.20	)	$	0.83		$	1.66
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income:
Net income (loss)	$	146		$	481	$	52		$	(191	)	$	137		$	270
Employee benefit plans
Net gain (loss) arising during the year	91			—		(425		)	24			(62		)	(24		)
Actuarial loss included in benefits expense	255			14		212			17			203			16
Less income tax effect	(148		)	1		67			(20		)	(27		)	(11		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	387			459		(103		)	(170		)	313			313
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$	391		$	463	$	(104	)	$	(171	)	$	308		$	308

	December 31, 2012
Consolidated Balance Sheets:	Previously Reported		Adjusted
Retained earnings	2,134		929
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,247	)	(37	)

	December 31, 2011
Consolidated Balance Sheets:	Previously Reported			Adjusted
Prepaid pension cost	$	339		$	319
Deferred income taxes	714			747
Total assets	5,591			5,604
Pension and indemnity plan liabilities	1,662			1,739
Other liabilities	59			62
Total liabilities	4,756			4,836
Retained earnings	1,988			448
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,492		)	(19		)
Total NCR stockholders' equity	785			718
Total stockholders' equity	820			753
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,591			5,604

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:	2012						2011						2010
	Previously Reported			Adjusted			Previously Reported			Adjusted			Previously Reported			Adjusted
Net income (loss)	$	146		$	481		$	52		$	(191	)	$	137		$	270
Deferred income taxes	(37		)	144			(13		)	(130		)	(48		)	(32		)
Pension and indemnity plans	(478		)	(994		)	92			452			80			(69		)

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder's Equity:	Retained Earnings					Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income						Total Equity
	Previously Reported		Adjusted			Previously Reported			Adjusted			Previously Reported			Adjusted
December 31, 2009	$	1,801	$	371		$	(1,509	)	$	(79	)	$	592		$	592
Net income (loss)	134		267			—			—			137			270
Changes to unrecognized losses and prior service cost related to pension, postretirement and post employment benefits	—		—			140			7			140			7
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—			174			41			176			43
Total comprehensive income (loss)	134		267			174			41			313			313
December 31, 2010	$	1,935	$	638		$	(1,335	)	$	(38	)	$	916		$	916
Net income (loss)	53		(190		)	—			—			54			(189		)
Changes to unrecognized losses and prior service cost related to pension, postretirement and post employment benefits	—		—			(123		)	44			(123		)	44
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—			(157		)	19			(155		)	21
Total comprehensive income (loss)	53		(190		)	(157		)	19			(101		)	(168		)
December 31, 2011	1,988		448			(1,492		)	(19		)	820			753
Net income (loss)	146		481			—			—			146			481
Changes to unrecognized losses and prior service cost related to pension, postretirement and post employment benefits	—		—			179			(4		)	179			(4		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—			245			(18		)	241			(22		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	146		481			245			(18		)	387			459
December 31, 2012	$	2,134	$	929		$	(1,247	)	$	(37	)	$	1,277		$	1,282

Schedule of Capitalized Computer Software [Table Text Block]

The following table identifies the activity relating to total capitalized software:

In millions	2012			2011			2010
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	118		$	107		$	102
Capitalization	80			62			57
Amortization	(56		)	(51		)	(52		)
Ending balance as of December 31	$	142		$	118		$	107

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

The components of basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to NCR common stockholders are as follows for the years ended December 31:

In millions, except per share amounts	2012		2011			2010
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	475	$	(97	)	$	277
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	6		(93		)	(10		)
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$	481	$	(190	)	$	267
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock	159.3		158.0			159.8
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock	4.5		—			1.4
Common stock and common stock equivalents	163.8		158.0			161.2
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations	$	2.98	$	(0.61	)	$	1.73
From discontinued operations	$	0.04	$	(0.59	)	$	(0.06	)
Total basic earnings (loss) per share	$	3.02	$	(1.20	)	$	1.67
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
From continuing operations	$	2.90	$	(0.61	)	$	1.72
From discontinued operations	$	0.04	$	(0.59	)	$	(0.06	)
Total diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	2.94	$	(1.20	)	$	1.66