Income Taxes (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Income Taxes [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 March 31,
	2015			2014			% Change
	(in thousands)
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$	141,469		$	116,725			21.2	%
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest		36.5	%		35.4	%
Equity in net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$	51,616		$	41,371			24.8
AB qualifying revenues	$	544,774		$	499,129			9.1
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest for calculating tax		31.1	%		29.3	%
Multiplied by: federal tax		3.5	%		3.5	%
Federal income taxes		5,927			5,112
State income taxes		104			100
Total income taxes	$	6,031		$	5,212			15.7
Effective tax rate		11.7	%		12.6	%