Federal and State Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Federal and State Income Taxes [Abstract]

Summary cash dividends per series preferred share for individual shareholder

	Ordinary Dividends		Capital Gains 15% Rate		Nontaxable Distribution		Total Dividends Paid
2011	$	1.30	$	—	$	—	$	1.30
2010		2.03		—		—		1.22

	Ordinary Dividends		Capital Gains 15% Rate		Nontaxable Distribution		Total Dividends Paid
2011	$	1.30	$	—	$	—	$	1.30
2010		2.03		—		—		2.03

	Ordinary Dividends		Capital Gains 15% Rate		Nontaxable Distribution		Total Dividends Paid
2012	$	2.31	$	—	$	—	$	2.31
2011		0.21		—		—		0.21

Summary cash dividends per common share for individual shareholder

	Ordinary Dividends		Capital Gains 15% Rate		Nontaxable Distribution		Total Dividends Paid
2012	$	0.49	$	—	$	—	$	0.49
2011		0.69		—		—		0.69
2010		0.77		—		—		0.77

Summary of GAAP net income attributable to Trust to taxable income

	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Net income(loss) attributable to Winthrop Realty Trust	$	24,631		$	10,933		$	16,477
Book/Tax differences from depreciation and amortization expense		5,297			4,588			189
Book/Tax differences of accretion of discount		(8,333	)		(13,401	)		(8,782	)
Book/Tax differences of unrealized gains		(6,923	)		(2,788	)		(10,080	)
Book/Tax differences on gains/losses from capital transactions		(1,876	)		(5,842	)		1,655
Book/Tax differences on Preferred Shares		—			1,428			1,563
Book/Tax differences for impairment losses		3,260			7,600			2,720
Book/Tax differences on investments in unconsolidated joint ventures		4,131			31,634			15,661
Other book/tax differences, net		(8,781	)		(766	)		(134	)
Book/Tax differences on dividend income		(452	)		(371	)		93
Book/Tax differences of market discount		14,065			13,250			—
Taxable income	$	25,019		$	46,265		$	19,362