Summary of Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Summary of Accounting Policies	Summary of Accounting Policies The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of DST Systems, Inc. (“DST” or the “Company”) included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to enable a reasonable understanding of the information presented. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet at that date, but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2013, and the results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012. Certain amounts in the 2012 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2013 presentation. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year 2013. Segment Presentation The Company’s operating business units offer sophisticated information processing and software services and products. Through March 31, 2013, the Company presented these businesses as two operating segments, Financial Services and Customer Communications. Investments in the Company’s real estate subsidiaries and affiliates, equity securities, private equity investments and certain financial interests have been aggregated into an Investments and Other Segment. The Company's chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) changed in September 2012, and in the second quarter of 2013, there was a change in how the CODM evaluates the strategic direction and financial results of the business and makes investment allocations. As a result, beginning in second quarter 2013, DST created a new reportable segment entitled Healthcare Services, by separating DST Healthcare (comprised of DST Health Solutions and Argus Health Systems) from the previously reported Financial Services Segment. The Company's operating business units are now reported as three operating segments (Financial Services, Healthcare Services and Customer Communications). Prior periods have been revised to reflect the new reportable operating segments. New Authoritative Accounting Guidance In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standard update, "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or Tax Credit Carryforward Exists." This standard requires netting of unrecognized tax benefits against a deferred tax asset for a loss or other carryforward that would apply in settlement of the uncertain tax positions. This standard is effective prospectively for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard but does not expect it to materially impact the consolidated financial statements. On January 1, 2013, DST adopted new authoritative accounting guidance that modifies the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The standard requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in the consolidated statement of income if the amount being reclassified is required to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference to other required disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements. See note 10 for enhanced disclosures provided as a result of the new standard.

Summary of Accounting Policies

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of DST Systems, Inc. (“DST” or the “Company”) included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to enable a reasonable understanding of the information presented. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2012 has been derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet at that date, but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2013, and the results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

Certain amounts in the 2012 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2013 presentation. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year 2013.

Segment Presentation

The Company’s operating business units offer sophisticated information processing and software services and products. Through March 31, 2013, the Company presented these businesses as two operating segments, Financial Services and Customer Communications. Investments in the Company’s real estate subsidiaries and affiliates, equity securities, private equity investments and certain financial interests have been aggregated into an Investments and Other Segment. The Company's chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) changed in September 2012, and in the second quarter of 2013, there was a change in how the CODM evaluates the strategic direction and financial results of the business and makes investment allocations. As a result, beginning in second quarter 2013, DST created a new reportable segment entitled Healthcare Services, by separating DST Healthcare (comprised of DST Health Solutions and Argus Health Systems) from the previously reported Financial Services Segment. The Company's operating business units are now reported as three operating segments (Financial Services, Healthcare Services and Customer Communications). Prior periods have been revised to reflect the new reportable operating segments.

New Authoritative Accounting Guidance

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standard update, "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or Tax Credit Carryforward Exists." This standard requires netting of unrecognized tax benefits against a deferred tax asset for a loss or other carryforward that would apply in settlement of the uncertain tax positions. This standard is effective prospectively for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of this standard but does not expect it to materially impact the consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2013, DST adopted new authoritative accounting guidance that modifies the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The standard requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in the consolidated statement of income if the amount being reclassified is required to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference to other required disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements. See note 10 for enhanced disclosures provided as a result of the new standard.