|
TAXATION (Income Tax Authority - Narrative) (Details)) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
|
12 Months Ended |
|
Dec. 31, 2014
|
Dec. 31, 2013
|
Dec. 31, 2012
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Income tax expense |
$ 823 |
$ 692 |
$ 210 |
| PRC income tax rate (as a percent) |
25.00% |
25.00% |
25.00% |
| PRC [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| PRC income tax rate (as a percent) |
25.00% |
|
|
| Preferential tax rate (as a percent) |
15.00% |
|
|
| Losses carried forward |
4,298 |
|
|
| Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance |
(9,189) |
1,575 |
|
| PRC [Member] | 2015 [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Operating loss carryforward expiration date |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
|
|
| Losses carried forward |
103 |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | 2016 [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Operating loss carryforward expiration date |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
|
|
| Losses carried forward |
3,218 |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | 2017 [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Operating loss carryforward expiration date |
Dec. 31, 2017 |
|
|
| Losses carried forward |
179 |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | 2018 [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Operating loss carryforward expiration date |
Dec. 31, 2018 |
|
|
| Losses carried forward |
283 |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | 2019 [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Operating loss carryforward expiration date |
Dec. 31, 2019 |
|
|
| Losses carried forward |
452 |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | Vimicro China [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| PRC income tax rate (as a percent) |
15.00% |
|
|
| Preferential tax rate (as a percent) |
15.00% |
|
|
| Withholding income tax rate on dividends from foreign investment enterprise to foreign non-resident enterprise investors (as a percent) |
10.00% |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | Vimicro Hong Kong [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Income tax expense |
|
694 |
292 |
| PRC income tax rate (as a percent) |
25.00% |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | Vimicro Guiyang [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Tax reduction percentage in tax rate after a specific period |
50.00% |
|
|
| Tax reduction period after a specific period |
3 years |
|
|
| PRC [Member] | Vimicro Guangdong [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Preferential tax rate (as a percent) |
15.00% |
|
|
| Favorable tax rate (as a percent) |
15.00% |
|
|
| Cayman [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Withholding tax imposed on payments of dividends |
0 |
|
|
| U.S. [Member] | Viewtel [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Taxable income eligible for partial benefit |
335 |
|
|
| Taxable income eligible for benefit |
75 |
|
|
| Income tax expense |
$ 8 |
$ 2 |
$ 5 |
| U.S. [Member] | Viewtel [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Graduated rate (as a percent) |
15.00% |
|
|
| U.S. [Member] | Viewtel [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Graduated rate (as a percent) |
25.00% |
|
|
| Hong Kong [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Withholding income tax rate on royalty income for the entities established outside Hong Kong (as a percent) |
|
4.95% |
4.95% |
| Hong Kong [Member] | Vimicro China [Member] |
|
|
|
| Taxation [Line Items] |
|
|
|
| Withholding income tax rate on royalty income for the entities established outside Hong Kong (as a percent) |
5.25% |
|
|
| Period for which preferential tax rate is applicable as high and new technology enterprise |
3 years |
|
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