Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Nov. 01, 2014
Income Taxes	Note J. Income Taxes The effective income tax rate was 38.0% for the fiscal 2015 third quarter and 29.2% for last year’s third quarter. The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended November 1, 2014 was 37.8% as compared to 34.8% for last year’s comparable period. The increase in the effective income tax rate for both periods was primarily due to the impact of last year’s third quarter tax benefits of approximately $80 million, primarily due to a reduction in our reserve for uncertain tax positions as a result of settlements with state taxing authorities and the reversal of a valuation allowance against a foreign net operating loss carryfoward. These benefits reduced last year’s third quarter effective tax rate by 8.9 percentage points and the effective income tax rate for the nine-month period ended November 2, 2013 by 3.3 percentage points. In addition, the effective income tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 increased due to the expiration of legislation allowing for the U.S. Work Opportunity Tax Credit on December 31, 2013, offset by a difference in the jurisdictional mix of income. TJX had net unrecognized tax benefits of $29.3 million as of November 1, 2014, $26.2 million as of February 1, 2014 and $23.6 million as of November 2, 2013. 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 2006 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 $9.3 million as of November 1, 2014; $8.1 million as of February 1, 2014 and $6.2 million as of November 2, 2013. 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 $0 million to $11.7 million.

Note J. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 38.0% for the fiscal 2015 third quarter and 29.2% for last year’s third quarter. The effective income tax rate for the nine months ended November 1, 2014 was 37.8% as compared to 34.8% for last year’s comparable period. The increase in the effective income tax rate for both periods was primarily due to the impact of last year’s third quarter tax benefits of approximately $80 million, primarily due to a reduction in our reserve for uncertain tax positions as a result of settlements with state taxing authorities and the reversal of a valuation allowance against a foreign net operating loss carryfoward. These benefits reduced last year’s third quarter effective tax rate by 8.9 percentage points and the effective income tax rate for the nine-month period ended November 2, 2013 by 3.3 percentage points. In addition, the effective income tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 increased due to the expiration of legislation allowing for the U.S. Work Opportunity Tax Credit on December 31, 2013, offset by a difference in the jurisdictional mix of income.

TJX had net unrecognized tax benefits of $29.3 million as of November 1, 2014, $26.2 million as of February 1, 2014 and $23.6 million as of November 2, 2013.

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 2006 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 $9.3 million as of November 1, 2014; $8.1 million as of February 1, 2014 and $6.2 million as of November 2, 2013.

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 $0 million to $11.7 million.