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Component: (Network and Table)
Network
2418405 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details 3)
(http://www.ligand.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails3)
Table(Implied)
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Reporting Entity [Axis]0000886163 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]Period [Axis]
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31
2015-01-01 - 2015-12-31
2014-01-01 - 2014-12-31
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
 
 
 
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
 
 
 
Balance at beginning of period
36,452,000  
8,524,000  
8,504,000  
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
70,000  
154,000  
40,000  
Additions for tax positions of prior years
2,408,000  
28,224,000  
0  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
(160,000) 
(450,000) 
(20,000) 
Balance at end of period
38,770,000  
 
36,452,000  
 
8,524,000