Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

The adoption of this ASU had a $0.3 million cumulative effect on the Company's 2018 results, with a corresponding adjustment to additional paid-in capital (amounts below in thousands, except per share data):

	First Quarter				Second Quarter
	Reported		Recast		Reported		Recast
Income statement data:
Wealth management services cost of revenue	$	63,067	$	63,064	$	62,452	$	62,149
Operating income (loss)	52,734		52,737		38,823		39,126
Net income (loss)	45,543		45,546		35,157		35,460
Net income (loss) attributable to Blucora, Inc.	45,338		45,341		34,935		35,238
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Blucora, Inc.:
Basic	$	0.97	$	0.97	$	0.74	$	0.75
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	46,641		46,641		47,221		47,221

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash as Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets

The following table presents cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as reported on the consolidated balance sheets that equal the total amounts on the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2018		2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	84,524	$	59,965
Cash segregated under federal or other regulations	842		1,371
Restricted cash included in "Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net"	—		425
Restricted cash included in "Other long-term assets"	—		550
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	85,366	$	62,311

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash as Reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets

The following table presents cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as reported on the consolidated balance sheets that equal the total amounts on the consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2018		2017
Cash and cash equivalents	$	84,524	$	59,965
Cash segregated under federal or other regulations	842		1,371
Restricted cash included in "Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net"	—		425
Restricted cash included in "Other long-term assets"	—		550
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	85,366	$	62,311

Summary of Estimated Useful Life of Property and Equipment

Depreciation is computed under the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Computer equipment and software	3 years
Data center servers	3 years
Internally-developed software	3 years
Office equipment	7 years
Office furniture	7 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of lease term or economic life