2.2.0.25falsefalse0207 - Disclosure - Income Taxestruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2011_Mar-31-2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000721683duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseIncome Taxes [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>Note 7 — Income Taxes</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     TSYS is the parent of an affiliated group that files a consolidated U.S. Federal income tax return and most state and foreign income tax returns on a separate entity basis. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examinations by these taxing authorities unless statutory examination periods lapse. TSYS is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for years before 2007 and with a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations from state, local or foreign authorities for years before 2003. There are currently no Federal tax examinations in progress. However, a number of tax examinations are in progress by the relevant foreign and state tax authorities. Although TSYS is unable to determine the ultimate outcome of these examinations, TSYS believes that its liability for uncertain tax positions relating to these jurisdictions for such years is adequate. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     TSYS’ effective tax rate attributable to continuing operations was 34.0% and 35.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively. The decreased rate during the March 31, 2011 period was mostly due to differences in discrete charges and changes in the jurisdictional sources of income. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     TSYS adopted the provisions of ASC 740, <i>“Income Taxes,” </i>on January 1, 2007. This interpretation prescribed a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits did not change significantly during the three months ended March 31, 2011. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     TSYS recognizes potential interest and penalties related to the underpayment of income taxes as income tax expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Gross accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits totaled $0.6 million and $1.1 million as of and March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The total amounts of unrecognized income tax benefits as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rates are $3.7 million and $4.2 million (net of the Federal benefit on state tax issues), respectively, which include interest and penalties of $0.5 million and $1.0 million. TSYS does not expect any material changes to its calculation of uncertain tax positions during the next twelve months. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription containing the entire income tax disclosure. Examples include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 136, 172 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 falsefalseIncome Taxes12Income TaxesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue