Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2016
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Transamerica Advisors Life Insurance Company (“TALIC” or the “Company”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transamerica Corporation which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON N.V., a limited liability share company organized under Dutch law. The Company was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of AEGON USA, LLC (“AUSA”) which merged into Transamerica Corporation effective December 31, 2015. AEGON N.V. and its subsidiaries and joint ventures have life insurance and pension operations in over twenty countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia and are also active in savings and investment operations, accident and health insurance, general insurance and limited banking operations in a number of these countries. For a complete discussion of the Company’s 2015 Financial Statements and accounting policies, refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The interim Financial Statements are unaudited; all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the Financial Statements have been included. These unaudited Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Financial Statements included in the 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The nature of the Company’s business is such that results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The Company is a life insurance company that conducts its business primarily in the annuity markets and to a lesser extent in the life insurance markets of the financial services industry. The Company is domiciled in the State of Arkansas and is currently licensed to sell insurance and annuities in forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. Currently, the Company is not issuing new life insurance, variable annuity and market value adjusted annuity products. In 2012, the Company began selling a fixed contingent annuity (also sometimes referred to as a contingent deferred annuity (“CDA”)) that includes a stand-alone living benefit (“SALB”). A SALB is essentially a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit which exists independently and is applied to mutual funds and exchange traded funds. As of November 22, 2015, the Company no longer issues CDAs to new investors. Existing certificate owners of the CDA may continue to make subsequent contributions, as permitted by the terms of the CDA contract.
Basis of Reporting	Basis of Reporting The accompanying Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company also submits financial statements to insurance industry regulatory authorities, which are prepared on the basis of statutory accounting principles (“SAP”). The significant accounting policies and related judgments underlying the accompanying Financial Statements are summarized below.
Accounting Estimates and Assumptions	Accounting Estimates and Assumptions The preparation of financial statements in conformity to GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Those estimates are inherently subject to change and actual results could differ from those estimates. Included among the material (or potentially material) reported amounts and disclosures that require extensive use of estimates are: the fair value of certain invested assets, asset valuation allowances, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, value of business acquired, goodwill, policyholder liabilities, income taxes, and potential effects of unresolved litigated matters.
Derivatives and Hedge Accounting	Derivatives and Hedge Accounting Derivatives are used by the Company to manage risk associated with interest rate or equity market risk or volatility. Freestanding derivatives are carried in the Balance Sheets at fair value. If a derivative is not designated as an accounting hedge or its use in managing risk does not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are reported in net derivative gains (losses) in the Statements of Income. To qualify for hedge accounting, the hedge relationship is designated and formally documented at inception, detailing the particular risk management objective and strategy for the hedge (which includes the item and risk that is being hedged), the derivative that is being used and how hedge effectiveness is being assessed. For hedge accounting purposes, a distinction is made between fair value hedges, cash flow hedges and hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation. Currently, the Company only has cash flow hedges. A cash flow hedge is the hedge of the exposure to variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability. For derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into the Statements of Income when the Company’s earnings are affected by the variability of the hedged item. Any hedge ineffectiveness is recognized as a component of net derivative gains (losses) in the Statements of Income.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenues for variable annuity contracts consist of policy charges for i) mortality and expense risks, ii) certain guaranteed benefits selected by the contract owner, iii) administration fees, iv) annual contract maintenance charges, and v) withdrawal charges assessed on contracts surrendered during the withdrawal charge period. Revenues for variable annuity contracts are recognized when policy charges are assessed or earned. Revenues for variable life insurance contracts consist of policy charges for i) mortality and expense risks, ii) cost of insurance fees, iii) amortization of front-end and deferred sales charges, and iv) withdrawal charges assessed on contracts surrendered during the withdrawal charge period. Revenues for variable life insurance contracts are recognized when policy charges are assessed or earned. Revenues for interest-sensitive annuity contracts (market value adjusted annuities, immediate annuities, and single premium deferred annuities) and interest-sensitive life insurance contracts (single premium whole life insurance) consist of i) investment income, ii) gains (losses) on the sale of invested assets, and iii) withdrawal charges assessed on contracts surrendered during the withdrawal charge period. Revenues for interest-sensitive annuity and life insurance contracts are recognized when investment income and investment sales are earned while revenues for contract charges are recognized when assessed or earned. Revenues for CDAs consist of fees assessed based on a percentage of the participants covered asset pool, which are assets that are not internally managed by the Company. Fees on CDAs are recognized as they are assessed or earned.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events The financial statements are adjusted to reflect events that occurred between the balance sheet date and the date when the financial statements are issued, provided they give evidence of conditions that existed at the balance sheet date. No subsequent events have been identified that require adjustments to the Financial Statements.
Future Accounting Guidance	Future Accounting Guidance Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this Update replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance-sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The following are the main provisions. The amendments in this Update require a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Although credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities are measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, the amendments in this Update require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application of this Update is permitted only as of fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity will apply the amendments in this Update through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). The Company is evaluating the impact that adoption of this Update will have on its consolidated financial statements. ASU 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instrument In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments. The amendments in this Update clarify the requirements for assessing whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. That is, when a call (put) option is contingently exercisable, an entity does not have to assess whether the event that triggers the ability to exercise a call (put) option is related to interest rates or credit risks. An entity is required to assess the embedded call (put) options solely in accordance with the existing four-step decision sequence which are whether (1) the payoff is adjusted based on changes in an index, (2) the payoff is indexed to an underlying other than interest rates or credit risk, (3) the debt involves a substantial premium or discount, and (4) the call (put) option is contingently exercisable. The amendments in this Update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. An entity should apply the amendments in this Update on a modified retrospective basis to existing debt instruments as of the beginning of the fiscal year for which the amendments are effective. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that implementation of this Update will have on its financial statements. ASU 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-05, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships. The amendments in this Update clarify that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as the hedging instrument under Topic 815 does not, in and of itself, require de-designation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met. That is, the reporting entity must still consider whether there is a change in the counterparty’s creditworthiness in determining whether the hedging relationship continues to qualify for hedge accounting. The amendments in this Update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. An entity has an option to apply the amendments in this Update on either a prospective basis or a modified retrospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that implementation of this Update will have on its financial statements. ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The guidance in this update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance unless the contracts are within the scope of other standards (for example, financial instruments, insurance contracts or lease contracts). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance establishes a five-step process to achieve this core principle. An entity may use either of two transition methods: retrospective to each prior reporting period presented with certain practical expedients, or retrospective with the cumulative effect of initial application recognized at the date of initial application subject to certain additional disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in Topic 606. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which clarifies the following two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which provides clarifying guidance in a few narrow areas and adds some practical expedients to the guidance. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the effective date by one year. As a result, these updates will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application of these updates is permitted only as of fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The company is evaluating the impact that adoption of these updates will have on the Company’s financial position and results of operation. ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall In January 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. For the Company, the amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. With certain exceptions, early adoption is not permitted. The amendments in this guidance are to be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption, except for those related to equity securities without readily determinable fair values (including disclosure requirements) which are to be applied prospectively to equity investments that exist as of the date of adoption of the update. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that these updates will have on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures.