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Income Taxes Income Taxes - NOL Usage Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2015
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
Income Tax Examination, Penalties and Interest Accrued | $ 3,650,000 |  |
Tolling Payment Payable to AFG | 19,066 |  | $ 70,911
AdditionalTollingPaymentPayabletoAFG |  |  | 543
TierABCCredit | 10,000 |  |
TierACreditUsage | 5,000 |  |
NOL allocated amount | 4,110,272 |  |
Ambac Assurance [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage Of Notional Federal Tax Liability |  | 25.00% |
AACNetTaxableIncome | 1,013,502 |  | 877,313
NOL allocated amount | 2,636,498 |  |
AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierA |  |  | 479,000
AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierB | 136,189 |  | 398,313
AdditionalAACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierB |  |  | $ 3,879
AFG [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage Of Notional Federal Tax Liability |  | 50.00% |
Tier A [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 479,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 15.00% |  |
Tier B [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 1,057,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 40.00% |  |
Tier C [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 1,057,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 10.00% |  |
Tier D [Member] |  |  |
Net Income Loss Reconciliation [Line Items] |  |  |
NOL allocated amount | $ 1,057,000 |  |
NOL applicable percentage | 15.00% |  |

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