Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Income Taxes - Income Tax Examination (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Income Taxes - Income Tax Examination (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]    
Expected decrease in UTB over the next twelve months $ 900,000,000  
Benefit recognized in income tax expense for interest and penalties, net of tax 40,000,000 135,000,000
Net accrual for interest and penalties related to income taxes $ 102,000,000 $ 137,000,000
U.K. [Member]
    
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]    
Year under income tax examination 2011 [1]  
Minimum
    
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]    
Number of jurisdictions for filling income tax returns 100  
Minimum | U.S. federal [Member]
    
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]    
Year under income tax examination 2010 [1],[2]  
Income Tax Examintation, Year under Examiniation, In Negotiation for Final Resolution 2004 [1],[2]  
Maximum | U.S. federal [Member]
    
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]    
Year under income tax examination 2011 [1],[2]  
Income Tax Examintation, Year under Examiniation, In Negotiation for Final Resolution 2009 [1],[2]  
[1] All tax years subsequent to the above years remain open to examination.
[2] From the date of its acquisition by Bank of America, Merrill Lynch has been included in Bank of America's consolidated federal income tax return.