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Income Taxes (Details Textuals) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | |
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Mar. 31, 2014
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| Income Taxes (Textuals) | ||
| Unrecognized tax benefits as a result of potential resolutions of prior years' tax | $ 430us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit | |
| Unrecognized tax benefits, amounts recorded to equity | $ 317axp_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEquity | |
| Actual tax rates | 34.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations | 35.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations |
| Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Earliest Year [Member] | ||
| Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] | ||
| Open tax years by major tax jurisdiction | 2008 | |
| Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Latest Year [Member] | ||
| Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] | ||
| Open tax years by major tax jurisdiction | 2011 | |
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- Details
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- Definition
Unrecognized tax benefits relating to amounts recorded to equity that, if recognized, would not impact the effective rate. No definition available.
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- Definition
Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Details
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- Definition
Tax year that remains open to examination under enacted tax laws, in CCYY format. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The amount of the unrecognized tax benefit of a position taken for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount thereof will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Details
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