XML 61 R45.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Reserve for operating losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
May 31, 2016 | May 31, 2015 | May 31, 2014 | May 31, 2013
Allowance For Operating Losses |  |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Reserves for processing obligations | $ 2,460 | $ 1,286 |  |
Allowance For Uncollectible Customer's Liability - Merchant Card Processing Services |  |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation and allowance charges | 3,729 | 4,928 | $ 8,658 |
Valuation and allowance reserve | 2,460 | 1,286 | 1,724 | $ 2,318
Reserve for Operating Losses-Check Guarantee Processing |  |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation and allowance charges | 22,827 | 9,578 | 11,916 |
Valuation and allowance reserve | 4,868 | 2,684 | $ 2,998 | $ 3,144
Other Receivables, Net, Current | Reserve for Operating Losses-Check Guarantee Processing |  |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation and allowance reserve | $ 4,900 | $ 2,700 |  |

X
- Definition Settlement Liabilities, Reserves + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gpn_SettlementLiabilitiesReserves
Namespace Prefix: | gpn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, charged to costs and expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAndQualifyingAccountsDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis=gpn_AllowanceForOperatingLossesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis=gpn_AllowanceForUncollectibleCustomersLiabilityMerchantCardProcessingServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis=gpn_AllowanceForUncollectibleCustomersLiabilityCheckGuaranteeProcessingServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=gpn_OtherReceivablesNetCurrentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |