Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income taxes BNY Mellon recorded an income tax provision of $283 million (25.9% effective tax rate) in the first quarter of 2016 and $280 million (25.7% effective tax rate) in the first quarter of 2015. Both effective tax rates primarily reflect tax benefits from foreign operations and tax-exempt income. Our total tax reserves as of March 31, 2016 were $175 million compared with $649 million at Dec. 31, 2015. If these tax reserves were unnecessary, $175 million would affect the effective tax rate in future periods. We recognize accrued interest and penalties, if applicable, related to income taxes in income tax expense. Included in the balance sheet at March 31, 2016 is accrued interest, where applicable, of $18 million. The additional tax expense related to interest for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 was $2 million compared with a tax benefit of $2 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2015. It is reasonably possible the total reserve for uncertain tax positions could decrease within the next 12 months by approximately $63 million as a result of adjustments related to tax years that are still subject to examination. On Nov. 10, 2009, BNY Mellon filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court challenging the IRS’s disallowance of certain foreign tax credits claimed for the 2001 and 2002 tax years. In 2013, BNY Mellon received an adverse decision from the U.S. Tax Court. Accordingly, we recorded a full reserve for the matter. BNY Mellon appealed the decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. On Sept. 9, 2015, the Second Circuit affirmed the Tax Court decision. On Nov. 2, 2015, BNY Mellon filed a petition for review with the Supreme Court of the United States, seeking reversal of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals decision. On March 7, 2016, the Supreme Court denied our petition for review. Accordingly, our tax reserve and accrued interest were reduced by $467 million and $178 million, respectively, with no impact to earnings in the first quarter of 2016. See Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Our federal income tax returns are closed to examination through 2010. Our New York State tax returns are closed to examination through 2012. Our New York City income tax returns are closed to examination through 2010. Our UK income tax returns are closed to examination through 2012.

Income taxes

BNY Mellon recorded an income tax provision of $283 million (25.9% effective tax rate) in the first quarter of 2016 and $280 million (25.7% effective tax rate) in the first quarter of 2015. Both effective tax rates primarily reflect tax benefits from foreign operations and tax-exempt income.

Our total tax reserves as of March 31, 2016 were $175 million compared with $649 million at Dec. 31, 2015. If these tax reserves were unnecessary, $175 million would affect the effective tax rate in future periods. We recognize accrued interest and penalties, if applicable, related to income taxes in income tax expense. Included in the balance sheet at March 31, 2016 is accrued interest, where applicable, of $18 million. The additional tax expense related to interest for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 was $2 million compared with a tax benefit of $2 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2015.

It is reasonably possible the total reserve for uncertain tax positions could decrease within the next 12 months by approximately $63 million as a result of adjustments related to tax years that are still subject to examination.

On Nov. 10, 2009, BNY Mellon filed a petition with the U.S. Tax Court challenging the IRS’s disallowance of certain foreign tax credits claimed for the 2001 and 2002 tax years. In 2013, BNY Mellon received an adverse decision from the U.S. Tax Court. Accordingly, we recorded a full reserve for the matter. BNY Mellon appealed the decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. On Sept. 9, 2015, the Second Circuit affirmed the Tax Court decision. On Nov. 2, 2015, BNY Mellon filed a petition for review with the Supreme Court of the United States, seeking reversal of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals decision. On March 7, 2016, the Supreme Court denied our petition for review. Accordingly, our tax reserve and accrued interest were reduced by $467 million and $178 million, respectively, with no impact to earnings in the first quarter of 2016. See Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Our federal income tax returns are closed to examination through 2010. Our New York State tax returns are closed to examination through 2012. Our New York City income tax returns are closed to examination through 2010. Our UK income tax returns are closed to examination through 2012.