Income Taxes (Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate) (Details)
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12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate |
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U.S. federal statutory income tax rate |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate |
Inclusion of after-tax earnings of GECC in before-tax earnings of GE |
0.00%ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary |
0.00%ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary |
0.00%ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary |
Tax on global activities including exports |
(16.70%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports |
(20.90%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports |
(9.20%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports |
U.S. business credits |
(2.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther |
(3.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther |
(2.00%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther |
All other - net |
(4.00%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments |
(3.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments |
(3.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments |
Total income tax reconciliation items |
(22.90%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems |
(27.30%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems |
(16.90%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems |
Actual income tax rate |
12.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations |
7.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations |
18.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business |
0.00%ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 |
0.00%ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 |
(1.90%)ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 |
Cembra [Member] |
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Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate |
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Tax on global activities including exports |
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(6.50%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ge_CembraMember |
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Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |
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68.50%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ge_CembraMember |
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GEMB-Nordic [Member] |
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Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate |
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Tax on global activities including exports |
(1.80%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ge_GembNordicMember |
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GE |
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Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate |
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U.S. federal statutory income tax rate |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
Inclusion of after-tax earnings of GECC in before-tax earnings of GE |
(13.90%)ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(14.90%)ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(14.30%)ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
Tax on global activities including exports |
(8.40%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(4.60%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(4.50%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
U.S. business credits |
(0.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(1.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(0.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
All other - net |
(1.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(3.00%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(2.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
Total income tax reconciliation items |
(24.70%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(24.10%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
(22.40%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
Actual income tax rate |
10.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
10.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
12.60%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business |
0.00%ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
0.00%ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
0.00%ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember |
GECC |
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Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate |
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U.S. federal statutory income tax rate |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
Inclusion of after-tax earnings of GECC in before-tax earnings of GE |
0.00%ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
0.00%ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
0.00%ge_EffectiveTaxRateImpactOfInclusionOfAfterTaxEarningsOfSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
Tax on global activities including exports |
(20.70%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(39.80%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(11.20%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
U.S. business credits |
(3.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(3.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(3.00%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsOther / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
All other - net |
(5.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
0.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(2.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
Total income tax reconciliation items |
(29.70%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(43.60%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(20.90%)ge_IncomeTaxReconciliationItems / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
Actual income tax rate |
5.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(8.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
14.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Disposition of Business |
0.00%ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
0.00%ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
(4.20%)ge_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness1 / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
GECC | Cembra [Member] |
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Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate |
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Tax on global activities including exports |
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(16.10%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ge_CembraMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
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GECC | GEMB-Nordic [Member] |
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Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate to Actual Income Tax Rate |
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Tax on global activities including exports |
(4.30%)ge_TaxOnGlobalActivitiesIncludingExports / us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis = ge_GembNordicMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = ge_SubsidiariesGeccMember |
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