v3.8.0.1
Income taxes (Schedule of effective tax rate) (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]      
U.S. Statutory rates 34.00% 34.00% 34.00%
Foreign income not recognized in USA (34.00%) (34.00%) (34.00%)
China income taxes 25.00% 25.00% 25.00%
Impact of tax rate in other jurisdiction (5.90%) (3.60%) (2.50%)
Provisional re-measurement of deferred taxes (0.70%) 0.00% 0.00%
Valuation allowance (10.80%) (12.70%) (7.70%)
Other [1] (1.90%) (14.60%) (14.80%)
Effective income taxes 5.70% 5.90% 0.00%
[1] There were no other material items affecting the effective income tax for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 except for (i) losses incurred by SGOCO of approximately $0.9 million, $3.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively, where there is no tax in the Cayman Islands; and (ii) under-provision of Hong Kong profits tax as a result of certain non-deductible expenses in prior year.