Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Nov. 02, 2013
Income Taxes	Note I. Income Taxes The effective income tax rate was 29.2% for the fiscal 2014 third quarter and 38.3% for last year’s third quarter. The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended November 2, 2013 was 34.8% as compared to 38.4% for last year’s comparable period. The decrease in the effective income tax rate for both periods was primarily due to fiscal 2014 third quarter tax benefits of approximately $80 million, primarily due to a reduction in our reserve for uncertain tax positions and the reversal of a valuation allowance against a foreign net operating loss carryfoward. These benefits reduced the third quarter effective tax rate by 8.9 percentage points and the year-to-date effective income tax rate by 3.3 percentage points. This year’s effective income tax rate also benefitted from the extension of legislation allowing for the U.S. Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which had expired as of the beginning of last year and was not extended until the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. TJX had net unrecognized tax benefits of $23.6 million as of November 2, 2013, $125.3 million as of February 2, 2013 and $120.9 million as of October 27, 2012. During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the net reserve for uncertain tax positions was reduced by $104 million as a result of a settlement with state taxing authorities. The remainder of the change in the reserve during fiscal 2014 is due to various additions for uncertain tax positions taken in the current and prior years, reductions resulting from the lapse of statutes of limitations, and other settlements with taxing authorities. TJX is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple states, local and foreign jurisdictions. In nearly all jurisdictions, the tax years through fiscal 2005 are no longer subject to examination. TJX’s accounting policy classifies interest and penalties related to income tax matters as part of income tax expense. The total accrued amount on the balance sheets for interest and penalties was $6.2 million as of November 2, 2013; $38.6 million as of February 2, 2013 and $36.2 million as of October 27, 2012. Based on the outcome of tax examinations or judicial or administrative proceedings, or as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations in specific jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits for certain tax positions taken on previously filed tax returns may change materially from those presented in the financial statements. During the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that tax examinations of prior years’ tax returns or judicial or administrative proceedings that reflect such positions taken by TJX may be finalized. As a result, the total net amount of unrecognized tax benefits may decrease, which would reduce the provision for taxes on earnings, by a range of $1.0 million to $7.0 million. On September 13, 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service released final tangible property regulations that provide guidance on the tax treatment regarding the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. While early adoption is available, the effective date to implement these regulations is for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The Company is currently assessing these rules and the impact to its financial statements, if any, but believes adoption of these regulations will not have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Note I. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 29.2% for the fiscal 2014 third quarter and 38.3% for last year’s third quarter. The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended November 2, 2013 was 34.8% as compared to 38.4% for last year’s comparable period. The decrease in the effective income tax rate for both periods was primarily due to fiscal 2014 third quarter tax benefits of approximately $80 million, primarily due to a reduction in our reserve for uncertain tax positions and the reversal of a valuation allowance against a foreign net operating loss carryfoward. These benefits reduced the third quarter effective tax rate by 8.9 percentage points and the year-to-date effective income tax rate by 3.3 percentage points. This year’s effective income tax rate also benefitted from the extension of legislation allowing for the U.S. Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which had expired as of the beginning of last year and was not extended until the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.

TJX had net unrecognized tax benefits of $23.6 million as of November 2, 2013, $125.3 million as of February 2, 2013 and $120.9 million as of October 27, 2012. During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the net reserve for uncertain tax positions was reduced by $104 million as a result of a settlement with state taxing authorities. The remainder of the change in the reserve during fiscal 2014 is due to various additions for uncertain tax positions taken in the current and prior years, reductions resulting from the lapse of statutes of limitations, and other settlements with taxing authorities.

TJX is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple states, local and foreign jurisdictions. In nearly all jurisdictions, the tax years through fiscal 2005 are no longer subject to examination.

TJX’s accounting policy classifies interest and penalties related to income tax matters as part of income tax expense. The total accrued amount on the balance sheets for interest and penalties was $6.2 million as of November 2, 2013; $38.6 million as of February 2, 2013 and $36.2 million as of October 27, 2012.

Based on the outcome of tax examinations or judicial or administrative proceedings, or as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations in specific jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits for certain tax positions taken on previously filed tax returns may change materially from those presented in the financial statements. During the next 12 months, it is reasonably possible that tax examinations of prior years’ tax returns or judicial or administrative proceedings that reflect such positions taken by TJX may be finalized. As a result, the total net amount of unrecognized tax benefits may decrease, which would reduce the provision for taxes on earnings, by a range of $1.0 million to $7.0 million.

On September 13, 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service released final tangible property regulations that provide guidance on the tax treatment regarding the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. While early adoption is available, the effective date to implement these regulations is for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The Company is currently assessing these rules and the impact to its financial statements, if any, but believes adoption of these regulations will not have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.