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Summary of Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 28, 2017
Summary of Accounting Policies | Note A. Summary of Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements of The TJX Companies, Inc. (referred to as “TJX,” “we” or “the Company”) include the financial statements of all of TJX’s subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All of its activities are conducted by TJX or its subsidiaries and are consolidated in these financial statements. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Fiscal Year: TJX’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to the last day of January of each year. The fiscal years ended January 28, 2017 (fiscal 2017), January 30, 2016 (fiscal 2016) and January 31, 2015 (fiscal 2015) each included 52 weeks. Earnings Per Share: All earnings per share amounts refer to diluted earnings per share, unless otherwise indicated. Use of Estimates: Preparation of The TJX Companies, Inc. financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. TJX considers its accounting policies relating to inventory valuation, impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and tradenames, retirement obligations, share-based compensation, casualty insurance, reserves for uncertain tax positions and loss contingencies to be the most significant accounting policies that involve management estimates and judgments. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material. Revenue Recognition: TJX records revenue at the time of sale and receipt of merchandise by the customer, net of a reserve for estimated returns. We estimate returns based upon our historical experience. We defer recognition of a layaway sale and its related profit to the accounting period when the customer receives the layaway merchandise. Proceeds from the sale of gift cards as well as the value of store cards issued to customers as a result of a return or exchange are deferred until the customers use the cards to acquire merchandise. Based on historical experience, we estimate the amount of gift cards and store cards that will not be redeemed (referred to as breakage) and, to the extent allowed by local law, these amounts are amortized into income over the redemption period. Revenue recognized from breakage was $20.5 million in fiscal 2017, $13.8 million in fiscal 2016 and $17.8 million in fiscal 2015. We estimate the date of receipt by the customer when recognizing revenue from sales by our e-commerce operations and shipping and handling costs charged to the customer are included in revenue. The shipping and handling costs incurred by TJX are included in cost of sales, including buying and occupancy costs. Consolidated Statements of Income Classifications: Cost of sales, including buying and occupancy costs, includes the cost of merchandise sold including foreign currency gains and losses on merchandise purchases denominated in other currencies; gains and losses on inventory and fuel-related derivative contracts; asset retirement obligation costs: divisional occupancy costs (including real estate taxes, utility and maintenance costs and fixed asset depreciation); the costs of operating distribution centers; payroll, benefits and travel costs directly associated with buying inventory; and systems costs related to the buying and tracking of inventory. Selling, general and administrative expenses include store payroll and benefit costs; communication costs; credit and check expenses; advertising; administrative and field management payroll, benefits and travel costs; corporate administrative costs and depreciation; gains and losses on non-inventory related foreign currency exchange contracts; and other miscellaneous income and expense items. Cash and Cash Equivalents: TJX generally considers highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Investments with maturities greater than 90 days but less than one year at the date of purchase are included in short-term investments. These investments are classified as trading securities and are stated at fair value. Investments are classified as either short- or long-term based on their original maturities. TJX’s investments are primarily high-grade commercial paper, institutional money market funds and time deposits with major banks. As of January 28, 2017, TJX’s cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S. were $1.3 billion, of which $341.7 million was held in countries where TJX has the intention to reinvest any undistributed earnings indefinitely. Merchandise Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. TJX uses the retail method for valuing inventories at all of its businesses, except Sierra Trading Post (STP), and Trade Secret. The businesses that utilize the retail method have some inventory that is initially valued at cost before the retail method is applied as it has not been fully processed for sale (e.g. inventory in transit and unprocessed inventory in our distribution centers). Under the retail method, TJX utilizes a permanent markdown strategy and lowers the cost value of the inventory that is subject to markdown at the time the retail prices are lowered in the stores. TJX accrues for inventory obligations at the time title transfers, which is typically at the time when inventory is shipped. As a result, merchandise inventories on TJX’s balance sheet include an accrual for in-transit inventory of $641.9 million at January 28, 2017 and $690.3 million at January 30, 2016. Comparable amounts were reflected in accounts payable at those dates. Common Stock and Equity: Equity transactions consist primarily of the repurchase by TJX of its common stock under its stock repurchase programs and the recognition of compensation expense and issuance of common stock under TJX’s Stock Incentive Plan. Under TJX’s stock repurchase programs the Company repurchases its common stock on the open market. The par value of the shares repurchased is charged to common stock with the excess of the purchase price over par first charged against any available additional paid-in capital (APIC) and the balance charged to retained earnings. Due to the high volume of repurchases over the past several years, TJX has no remaining balance in APIC at the end of any of the years presented. All shares repurchased have been retired. Shares issued under TJX’s Stock Incentive Plan are issued from authorized but unissued shares, and proceeds received are recorded by increasing common stock for the par value of the shares with the excess over par added to APIC. Income tax benefits upon the expensing of options result in the creation of a deferred tax asset, while income tax benefits due to the exercise of stock options reduce deferred tax assets up to the amount that an asset for the related grant has been created. Any tax benefits greater than the deferred tax assets created at the time of expensing the options are credited to APIC; any deficiencies in the tax benefits are debited to APIC to the extent a pool for such deficiencies exists. In the absence of a pool, any deficiencies are realized in the related periods’ statements of income through the provision for income taxes. Any excess income tax benefits are included in cash flows from financing activities in the statements of cash flows. The par value of restricted stock awards is also added to common stock when the stock is issued, generally at grant date. The fair value of the restricted stock awards in excess of par value is added to APIC as the awards are amortized into earnings over the related requisite service periods. Share-Based Compensation: TJX accounts for share-based compensation by estimating the fair value of each award on the date of grant. TJX uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model for options awarded and the market price on the grant date for performance-based restricted stock awards. See Note I for a detailed discussion of share-based compensation. Interest: TJX’s interest expense is presented net of capitalized interest and interest income. The following is a summary of net interest expense:
|  | Fiscal Year Ended |
Dollars in thousands |  | January 28, 2017 |  |  | January 30, 2016 |  |  | January 31, 2015 |
Interest expense |  | $ | 69,219 |  |  | $ | 68,253 |  |  | $ | 64,783 |
Capitalized interest |  |  | (7,548 | ) |  |  | (7,984 | ) |  |  | (9,403) |
Interest (income) |  |  | (18,137 | ) |  |  | (13,869 | ) |  |  | (15,593) |
Interest expense, net |  | $ | 43,534 |  |  | $ | 46,400 |  |  | $ | 39,787 |
TJX capitalizes interest during the active construction period of major capital projects. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the related assets. Capitalized interest in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015 relates to costs on active owned real estate projects and development costs on a merchandising system. Depreciation and Amortization: For financial reporting purposes, TJX provides for depreciation and amortization of property using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Buildings are depreciated over 33 years. Leasehold costs and improvements are generally amortized over their useful life or the committed lease term (typically 10 years), whichever is shorter. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated over 3 to 10 years. Depreciation and amortization expense for property was $664.5 million in fiscal 2017, $622.0 million in fiscal 2016 and $595.6 million in fiscal 2015. TJX had no property held under capital leases during fiscal 2017, 2016, or 2015. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Significant costs incurred for internally developed software are capitalized and amortized over 3 to 15 years. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of disposed assets and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated and any gain or loss is included in income. Pre-opening costs, including rent, are expensed as incurred. Lease Accounting: TJX begins to record rent expense when it takes possession of a store, which is typically 30 to 60 days prior to the opening of the store and generally occurs before the commencement of the lease term, as specified in the lease. Asset Retirement Obligations: The Company establishes an asset retirement obligation, and related asset, for leases of property that require us to return the property to its original condition (commonly referred to as a reinstatement provision) if and when we exit the facility. These reinstatement provisions are primarily applicable to our European locations. The income statement impact of our asset retirement obligation is recorded in general corporate expenses and our operating divisions are charged the actual costs incurred when a retirement takes place. Build to Suit accounting—Lease agreements involving property built to our specifications are reviewed to determine if our involvement in the construction project requires that we account for the project costs as if we were the owner for accounting purposes. We have entered into several lease agreements where we are deemed the owner of a construction project for accounting purposes. Thus, during construction of the facility the construction costs incurred by the lessor are included as a construction in progress asset along with a related liability of the same amount on our balance sheet. Upon completion of the project, a sale-leaseback analysis is performed to determine if the Company should record a sale to remove the related asset and related obligation and record the lease as either an operating or capital lease obligation. If the Company is precluded from derecognizing the asset when construction is complete, due to continuing involvement beyond a normal leaseback, the lease is accounted for as a financing transaction and the recorded asset and related financing obligation remain on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Accordingly, the asset is depreciated over its estimated useful life in accordance with the Company’s policy and a portion of the lease payments is allocated to ground rent and treated as an operating lease. The portion of the lease payment allocated to ground rental expense is based on the fair value of the land at the commencement of construction. Lease payments allocated to the non-land asset are recognized as reductions to the financing obligation and interest expense. Goodwill and Tradenames: Goodwill includes the excess of the purchase price paid over the carrying value of the minority interest acquired in fiscal 1990 in TJX’s former 83%-owned subsidiary and represents goodwill associated with the T.J. Maxx chain, as well as the excess of cost over the estimated fair market value of the net assets acquired by TJX in the purchase of Winners in fiscal 1991, the purchase of Sierra Trading Post in fiscal 2013, and the purchase of Trade Secret in fiscal 2016 (See Note B). The following is a roll forward of goodwill by component:
Amounts in thousands |  | Marmaxx |  |  | Winners |  |  | Sierra Trading Post |  |  | Trade Secret |  |  | Total |
Balance, February 1, 2014 |  | $ | 70,027 |  |  | $ | 1,992 |  |  | $ | 97,254 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 169,273 |
Effect of exchange rate changes on goodwill |  |  | — |  |  |  | (251 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (251 | )
Balance, January 31, 2015 |  |  | 70,027 |  |  |  | 1,741 |  |  |  | 97,254 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 169,022 |
Additions |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 25,233 |  |  |  | 25,233 |
Effect of exchange rate changes on goodwill |  |  | — |  |  |  | (154 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | (190 | ) |  |  | (344 | )
Balance, January 30, 2016 |  |  | 70,027 |  |  |  | 1,587 |  |  |  | 97,254 |  |  |  | 25,043 |  |  |  | 193,911 |
Effect of exchange rate changes on goodwill |  |  | — |  |  |  | 99 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,861 |  |  |  | 1,960 |
Balance, January 28, 2017 |  | $ | 70,027 |  |  | $ | 1,686 |  |  | $ | 97,254 |  |  | $ | 26,904 |  |  | $ | 195,871 |
Goodwill is considered to have an indefinite life and accordingly is not amortized. Tradenames, which are included in other assets, are the value assigned to the name “Marshalls,” acquired by TJX in fiscal 1996 as part of the acquisition of the Marshalls chain, the value assigned to the name “Sierra Trading Post,” acquired by TJX in fiscal 2013 and the value assigned to the name “Trade Secret,” acquired by TJX in fiscal 2016. The tradenames were valued by calculating the discounted present value of assumed after-tax royalty payments. The Marshalls tradename is carried at a value of $107.7 million and is considered to have an indefinite life. The Sierra Trading Post tradename is being amortized over 15 years and was carried at a value of $28.0 million in fiscal 2017, $30.6 million in fiscal 2016 and $33.2 million in fiscal 2015 net of amortization of $10.5 million, $7.9 million and $5.3 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively. The Trade Secret tradename is being amortized over 7 years and was carried at a value of $11.0 million in fiscal 2017 and $11.6 million in fiscal 2016 net of amortization of $1.6 million and $300,000 in fiscal 2017 and 2016, respectively. TJX occasionally acquires or licenses other trademarks to be used in connection with private label merchandise. Such trademarks are included in other assets and are amortized to cost of sales, including buying and occupancy costs, over their useful life, generally from 7 to 10 years. Goodwill, tradenames and trademarks, and the related accumulated amortization if any, are included in the respective operating segment to which they relate. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Goodwill and Tradenames: TJX evaluates its long-lived assets, goodwill and tradenames for indicators of impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable, and at least annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. An impairment exists when the undiscounted cash flow of an asset or asset group is less than the carrying cost of that asset or asset group. The evaluation for long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows which are largely independent of other groups of assets, which is generally at the individual store level. If indicators of impairment are identified, an undiscounted cash flow analysis is performed to determine if an impairment exists. The store-by-store evaluations did not indicate any recoverability issues in each of the past three fiscal years. Goodwill is tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may have occurred and at least annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, using a quantitative assessment by comparing the carrying value of the related reporting unit to its fair value. An impairment exists when this analysis, using typical valuation models such as the discounted cash flow method, shows that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying cost of the reporting unit. We may assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. The assessment of qualitative factors is optional and at the Company’s discretion. In fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, we bypassed the qualitative assessment and performed the first step of the quantitative goodwill impairment test. Tradenames are also tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the tradename may exceed its fair value and at least annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. Testing is performed by comparing the discounted present value of assumed after-tax royalty payments to the carrying value of the tradename. There was no impairment related to our goodwill or tradenames in fiscal 2017, 2016 or 2015. Advertising Costs: TJX expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense was $402.6 million for fiscal 2017, $382.9 million for fiscal 2016 and $371.3 million for fiscal 2015. Foreign Currency Translation: TJX’s foreign assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at fiscal year-end exchange rates with resulting translation gains and losses included in shareholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Activity of the foreign operations that affect the statements of income and cash flows is translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the fiscal year. Loss Contingencies: TJX records a reserve for loss contingencies when it is both probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. TJX evaluates pending litigation and other contingencies at least quarterly and adjusts the reserve for such contingencies for changes in probable and reasonably estimable losses. TJX includes an estimate for related legal costs at the time such costs are both probable and reasonably estimable. Recently Issued Accounting Standards: In May 2014, a pronouncement was issued that creates common revenue recognition guidance for GAAP. The new guidance supersedes most preexisting revenue recognition guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard was originally scheduled to be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board proposed an update to this rule which deferred its effective date for one year. The proposed update stipulates the new standard would be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, with an option to adopt the standard on the originally scheduled effective date. The standard shall be applied either retrospectively to each period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. For TJX, the standard will be effective in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending January 26, 2019. We believe that there will be no change in the timing or amount of revenue recognized under the new standard as it relates to revenue from point of sale at the registers in our stores, which constitutes more than 95% of the Company’s revenue. We continue to evaluate other revenue streams such as e-commerce sales and shipping revenue and there may be a slight change in the timing of when such revenue is recognized. The new standard will require a change in the presentation of our sales return reserve on the balance sheet, which we record net. The new standard will require the reserve be established at the gross sales value with an asset established for the value of the merchandise returned. We do not expect this change to have material impact on our financial condition or results of operation. In February 2016, a pronouncement was issued that aims to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and requiring disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods; early adoption is permitted and modified retrospective application is required. The company expects this standard to have a material impact on its statement of financial condition as it will record a significant asset and liability associated with its more than 3,800 leased locations. We cannot assess the income statement impact at this time as we need to assess if the initial lease term will differ under the new standard versus current accounting practice. If the lease term remains unchanged the income statement impact of the new standard is not expected to be material. The company is in the process of evaluating its lease portfolio and identifying what additional data will be needed to comply with the new standard. We are also evaluating available software options and system support that will be required to implement the new accounting process. We do not currently plan to adopt early. In March 2016, a pronouncement was issued that aims to simplify several aspects of accounting and reporting for share-based payment transactions. One provision requires that excess income tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to share-based payments be recognized within income tax expense in the statement of income, rather than within additional paid-in capital on the balance sheet. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods, with early adoption permitted. The impact of this standard is dependent upon levels of activity in future periods but would have been a $70.0 million benefit to provision for income taxes in fiscal 2017. The standard will be effective for the first quarter of fiscal 2018. In August 2016, a pronouncement was issued that addresses diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance provides clarity around the cash flow classification for eight specific issues in an effort to reduce the current and potential future diversity in practice. The standard, which is to be applied retrospectively, will be effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. TJX does not expect this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, a pronouncement was issued that aims to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, goodwill impairment will be measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The new guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods. Early adoption is permitted for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. TJX does not expect this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards: In April 2015, a pronouncement was issued that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The guidance was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. For TJX, the standard was effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. As a result, we have recast the January 30, 2016 consolidated balance sheet to conform to the current period presentation. The adoption of this standard reduced previously-presented other assets by $9.1 million and reduced long-term debt by $9.1 million as of January 30, 2016. In May 2015, a pronouncement was issued that removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The pronouncement also removes the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Those disclosures are instead limited to investments for which the entity has elected to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted and TJX has adopted these provisions, including the retrospective application, to all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. Revisions: We have revised certain amounts in the financial statements and the accompanying notes to properly present debt issuance costs as a component of long-term debt rather than other assets.

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