XML 145 R125.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only) Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 36 Months Ended | 48 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Loss Carryforwards |  | $ 3,650,000 | $ 3,423,704 |  |  |  |  | $ 3,423,704
Tolling Payment Payable to AFG |  |  | 44,381 | $ 30,496 |  |  | $ 30,496 | 44,381
Tolling Payment Payable to AFG, Gross |  |  | $ 13,885 |  | $ 28,691 |  |  | 13,885
TierABCCredit | $ 5,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000 |  |
TierABCredit |  |  |  | $ (10,000) |  |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date |  |  | Dec. 31, 2029 |  |  |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date |  |  | Dec. 31, 2032 |  |  |  |  |
AFG [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards |  |  | $ 1,260,583 |  |  |  |  | 1,260,583
Ambac Assurance [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards |  |  | 2,163,121 |  |  |  |  | 2,163,121
Percentage Of Notional Federal Tax Liability |  | 25.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
AACNetTaxableIncome |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,486,879 |
AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierA |  |  |  |  | $ 479,000 |  |  |
AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierB |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,007,879 | 1,007,879
Tier B [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards |  | $ 1,057,000 | $ 1,057,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 1,057,000

X
- Definition AACNetTaxableIncome + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AACNetTaxableIncome
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierA + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierA
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierB + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_AACNetTaxableIncomeFromTierB
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage Of Notional Federal Tax Liability + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_PercentageOfNotionalFederalTaxLiability
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition TierABCCredit + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_TierABCCredit
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition TierABCredit + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_TierABCredit
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tolling Payment Payable to AFG + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_TollingPaymentPayabletoAFG
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Tolling Payment Payable to AFG, Gross + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_TollingPaymentPayabletoAFGGross
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Expiration date of each operating loss carryforward included in operating loss carryforward, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ambc_AfgMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=ambc_AmbacAssuranceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis=ambc_TierBMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |