Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company’s tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the Company’s annual effective tax rate. Each quarter the Company updates its estimated annual effective tax rate and, if the estimate changes, makes a cumulative adjustment. j2 Global’s annual effective tax rate is normally lower than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate and applicable apportioned state tax rates primarily due to anticipated earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.S. in jurisdictions where the Company’s effective tax rate is lower than in the U.S. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the effective tax rate was 29.4%. j2 Global does not provide for U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign operations because the Company intends to permanently reinvest such earnings in foreign jurisdictions and any determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable. Income before income taxes included income from domestic operations of $11.6 million and $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income from foreign operations of $19.4 million and $25.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $40.1 million and $37.6 million, respectively, in liabilities for uncertain income tax positions. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of income. Cash paid for income taxes net of refunds received was $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Certain taxes are prepaid during the year and included within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s prepaid taxes were $10.5 million and $5.8 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Income Tax Audits: The Company is under income tax audit by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") for tax years 2009 through 2011. The Company has appealed the IRS tax examiner's decision regarding transfer pricing for tax years 2009 and 2010 to the IRS appeals office (see Note 17 - Subsequent Events for further discussion). j2 Global is currently under income tax audit by the California Franchise Tax Board for tax years 2009 through 2011, by the New York City Department of Finance for tax years 2009 through 2011 and by the Canada Revenue Agency for tax years 2010 through 2011. We were notified by the Illinois Department of Revenue that the income tax audit for tax years 2008 and 2009 had been concluded with no changes. It is reasonably possible that these audits may conclude in the next 12 months (see Note 17 - Subsequent Events for further discussion) and that the uncertain tax positions the Company has recorded in relation to these tax years may change compared to the liabilities recorded for these periods. If the recorded uncertain tax positions are inadequate to cover the associated tax liabilities, the Company would be required to record additional tax expense in the relevant period, which could be material. If the recorded uncertain tax positions are adequate to cover the associated tax liabilities, the Company would be required to record any excess as reduction in tax expense in the relevant period, which could be material. However, it is not currently possible to estimate the amount, if any, of such change.

Income Taxes

The Company’s tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the Company’s annual effective tax rate. Each quarter the Company updates its estimated annual effective tax rate and, if the estimate changes, makes a cumulative adjustment. j2 Global’s annual effective tax rate is normally lower than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate and applicable apportioned state tax rates primarily due to anticipated earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries outside of the U.S. in jurisdictions where the Company’s effective tax rate is lower than in the U.S. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, the effective tax rate was 29.4%. j2 Global does not provide for U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign operations because the Company intends to permanently reinvest such earnings in foreign jurisdictions and any determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable. Income before income taxes included income from domestic operations of $11.6 million and $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and income from foreign operations of $19.4 million and $25.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $40.1 million and $37.6 million, respectively, in liabilities for uncertain income tax positions. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of income.

Cash paid for income taxes net of refunds received was $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Certain taxes are prepaid during the year and included within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s prepaid taxes were $10.5 million and $5.8 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

Income Tax Audits:

The Company is under income tax audit by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") for tax years 2009 through 2011. The Company has appealed the IRS tax examiner's decision regarding transfer pricing for tax years 2009 and 2010 to the IRS appeals office (see Note 17 - Subsequent Events for further discussion).

j2 Global is currently under income tax audit by the California Franchise Tax Board for tax years 2009 through 2011, by the New York City Department of Finance for tax years 2009 through 2011 and by the Canada Revenue Agency for tax years 2010 through 2011. We were notified by the Illinois Department of Revenue that the income tax audit for tax years 2008 and 2009 had been concluded with no changes.

It is reasonably possible that these audits may conclude in the next 12 months (see Note 17 - Subsequent Events for further discussion) and that the uncertain tax positions the Company has recorded in relation to these tax years may change compared to the liabilities recorded for these periods. If the recorded uncertain tax positions are inadequate to cover the associated tax liabilities, the Company would be required to record additional tax expense in the relevant period, which could be material. If the recorded uncertain tax positions are adequate to cover the associated tax liabilities, the Company would be required to record any excess as reduction in tax expense in the relevant period, which could be material. However, it is not currently possible to estimate the amount, if any, of such change.