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INCOME TAXES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]      
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate $ 88,100,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate $ 87,500,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate $ 72,700,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Tax benefit realized from stock options exercised 1,601,000us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities 2,260,000us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities 1,264,000us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities
U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Amount of indefinite re-investment with respect to the earnings and profits of its other foreign subsidiaries 246,000,000atml_UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiariesPermanentlyReinvested    
Income Tax Examination, Penalties and Interest Expense 1,200,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense 2,800,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense 400,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestExpense
Income Tax Examination, Penalties and Interest Accrued 5,200,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 3,800,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued  
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]      
Tax credits carry forwards 69,200,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
   
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]      
Tax credits carry forwards 23,600,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
   
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carry forwards 137,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
   
Tax credits carry forwards 39,000,000us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
   
Beginning 2031 [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carry forwards 17,600,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
/ atml_OperatingLossCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= atml_Beginning2031Member
   
Beginning 2015 [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carry forwards 501,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
/ atml_OperatingLossCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= atml_Beginning2015Member
   
Beginning 2016 [Member] | Foreign Tax Authority [Member]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]      
Net operating loss carry forwards $ 151,000,000us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
/ atml_OperatingLossCarryforwardExpirationDateAxis
= atml_Beginning2016Member