Income Taxes (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Computation of Effective Income Tax Rate and Changes in Components of Income Tax

AB Holding’s income tax is computed by multiplying certain AB qualifying revenues (primarily U.S. investment advisory fees and brokerage commissions) by AB Holding’s ownership interest in AB, multiplied by the 3.5% tax rate. AB Holding Units in AB’s consolidated rabbi trust are not treated as outstanding for purposes of calculating AB Holding’s ownership interest in AB.

	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015			% Change		2016			2015			% Change
	(in thousands)								(in thousands)
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$	158,035		$	133,308		18.5	%	$	448,820		$	420,533		6.7	%
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest	35.4		%	36.3		%			35.8		%	36.4		%
Equity in net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$	55,925		$	48,387		15.6		$	160,759		$	153,194		4.9
AB qualifying revenues	$	531,856		$	572,391		(7.1	)	$	1,565,294		$	1,682,390		(7.0	)
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest for calculating tax	29.8		%	30.8		%			30.1		%	30.9		%
Multiplied by: federal tax	3.5		%	3.5		%			3.5		%	3.5		%
Federal income taxes	5,549			6,167					16,494			18,171
State income taxes	118			134					343			346
Total income taxes	$	5,667		$	6,301		(10.1	)	$	16,837		$	18,517		(9.1	)
Effective tax rate	10.1		%	13.0		%			10.5		%	12.1		%