Note A. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. These Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments, accruals and deferrals among periods required to match costs properly with the related revenue or activity, considered necessary by The TJX Companies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “TJX”) for a fair statement of its financial statements for the periods reported, all in conformity with GAAP consistently applied. The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, including the related notes, contained in TJX’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 (“fiscal 2018”).

These interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full fiscal year. TJX’s business, in common with the businesses of retailers generally, is subject to seasonal influences, with higher levels of sales and income generally realized in the second half of the year.

The February 3, 2018 balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Fiscal Year

TJX’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to the last day of January of each year. The current fiscal year ends February 2, 2019 (“fiscal 2019”) and is a 52-week fiscal year. Fiscal 2018 was a 53-week fiscal year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with 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.

Summary of Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition

TJX adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers (referred to as “ASC 606”), on February 4, 2018 (“the adoption date”). 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. TJX adopted the new guidance under the modified retrospective approach which resulted in a $59 million cumulative adjustment to increase retained earnings. The cumulative adjustment primarily related to revenue recognized on the value of unredeemed rewards certificates issued to customers as part of the Company’s U.S. co-branded credit card loyalty program. We will now recognize the estimated unredeemed awards when they are earned, rather than when merchandise credits expire or when the likelihood of redemption becomes remote. In addition, on-line sales are now recognized at the shipping point rather than receipt by the customer.

Other changes relate to the presentation of revenue as certain expenses previously presented as a reduction of revenue are now classified as selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”). The new standard required a change in the presentation of our sales return reserve on the balance sheet, which we previously recorded net of the value of returned merchandise, but will now be presented at gross sales value with an asset established for the value of the merchandise returned. There is no change in the timing or amount of revenue recognized from point of sale at the registers in our stores, which constitutes the majority of the Company’s revenue.

Financial results for fiscal periods after the adoption date are presented under ASC 606 while results from prior periods are not adjusted and continue to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for the prior period. We applied ASC 606 only to contracts that were not completed prior to fiscal 2019. Adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations for fiscal period ended May 5, 2018 other than additional disclosure requirements.

Net Sales

Net sales consist primarily of merchandise sales, which are recorded net of a reserve for estimated returns, any discounts and sales taxes, related to the sales of merchandise both within our stores and online. Net sales also include an immaterial amount of other revenues that represent less than 1% of total revenues, primarily generated from TJX’s co-branded loyalty rewards credit card program offered in the United States only. Certain customers may receive discounts, which are accounted for as consideration reducing the transaction price. Merchandise sales from our stores are recognized at the point of sale when TJX provides the merchandise to the customer. The performance obligation is fulfilled at this point when the customer has obtained control by paying for and leaving with the merchandise. Merchandise sales made online are recognized when the product has been shipped, which is when legal title has passed and when TJX is entitled to payment, and the customer has obtained the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from the goods. Shipping and handling activities related to online sales occur after the customer obtains control of the goods. TJX’s policy is to treat shipping costs as part of our fulfillment center costs within our operating expenditures. As a result, shipping fee revenues received will be recognized when control of the goods transfer to the customer and will continue to be recorded as net sales. Shipping and handling costs incurred by TJX are included in cost of sales, including buying and occupancy costs. TJX disaggregates revenue by operating segment, see Note G—Segment Information.

Deferred Gift Card Revenue

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, as TJX does not fulfill its performance obligation until the gift card has been redeemed. While gift cards have an indefinite life, substantially all are redeemed in the first year of issuance. Based on historical experience, we estimate the amount of gift cards and store cards that will not be redeemed and, to the extent allowed by local law, these amounts are amortized into income over the redemption period.


In millions	May 5, 2018
Balance beginning of period	$	406.6
Deferred revenue		330.5
Effect of exchange rates changes on deferred revenue		(3.2	)
Revenue recognized		(371.8	)

Balance end of period	$	362.1

TJX recognized $372 million in gift card revenue in the first quarter fiscal 2019. Gift cards are combined in one homogeneous pool and are not separately identifiable. As such, the revenue recognized consists of gift cards that were part of the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period as well as gift cards that were issued during the period.

Sales Return Reserve

Our products are generally sold with a right of return and we may provide other credits or incentives, which are accounted for as variable consideration when estimating the amount of revenue to recognize. We have elected to apply the portfolio practical expedient and will estimate the variable consideration using the expected value method when calculating the returns reserve, as the difference to applying it to the individual contract would not differ materially. Returns will continue to be estimated based on historical experience and will be required to be established and presented at the gross sales value with an asset established for the estimated value of the merchandise returned separate from the refund liability. Liabilities for return allowances are included in “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and the offsetting receivable is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” on our consolidated balance sheets.

Goodwill

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 (“STP”) in fiscal 2013, and the purchase of Trade Secret in fiscal 2016, which was re-branded under the T.K. Maxx name during fiscal 2018. The following is a roll forward of goodwill by component:


Amounts in thousands	Marmaxx		Winners			Sierra Trading Post			T.K. Maxx in Australia			Total
Balance, January 31, 2017	$	70,027	$	1,686		$	97,254		$	26,904		$	195,871
Impairment		—		—			(97,254	)		—			(97,254	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on goodwill		—		98			—			1,354			1,452

Balance, February 3, 2018		70,027		1,784			—			28,258			100,069
Effect of exchange rate changes on goodwill		—		(58	)		—			(1,397	)		(1,455	)

Balance, May 5, 2018	$	70,027	$	1,726		$	—		$	26,861		$	98,614

Goodwill is considered to have an indefinite life and accordingly is not amortized. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $99.3 million, which included $97.3 million of STP goodwill and $2.0 million for certain long-lived assets of STP, as the estimated fair value of the STP business fell below its carrying value due to a decrease in projected revenue growth rates. The impairment charge is included within the Marmaxx segment results. Goodwill, and the related impairments if any, are included in the respective operating segment to which they relate.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Leases

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance on leases 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. We plan to adopt this standard in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending February 1, 2020. The Company is in the process of implementing a new lease accounting system and has established a cross-functional team to implement the updated lease guidance. This team is in the process of evaluating our lease portfolio to assess the impact this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. 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 4,100 leased locations. We plan to implement the transition package of three practical expedients permitted within the standard, which among other things, allows for the carryforward of historical lease classifications. We expect to make an accounting policy election that will keep leases with a term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet and result in recognizing those lease payments on a straight-line basis over the lease term. As our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we plan to use our incremental borrowing rate based on information available at commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. The Company has determined that the initial lease term will not differ under the new standard versus current accounting practice, and therefore the income statement impact of the new standard is not expected to be material.

Hedging Activities

In August 2017, the FASB issued updated guidance on hedge accounting. The updates allow hedge accounting for new types of interest rate hedges of financial instruments and simplify the documentation requirements to qualify for hedge accounting. In addition, any gain or loss from hedge ineffectiveness will be reported in the same income statement line with the effective hedge results and the hedged transaction. The updated guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not yet determined the timing for adoption or estimated the effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, the FASB issued updated guidance related to reporting comprehensive income. The updated guidance allows for a one-time reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effect resulting from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “2017 Tax Act”). The updated guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. The updated guidance should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the 2017 Tax Act is recognized. The Company has not yet determined the timing of adoption or estimated the effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

See Revenue Recognition in this Note A for the impact upon adoption.

Cash Flows

In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, TJX adopted a pronouncement that addresses differences in the way 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 differences in practice. The standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

Retirement Benefits

In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, TJX adopted a pronouncement related to retirement benefits, which requires that an employer report the service cost component of net periodic pension and net periodic post retirement cost in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the employees during the period. It also requires the other components of net periodic pension and net periodic postretirement benefit cost to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if such a subtotal is presented. The amendments in this update were applied retrospectively for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the income statement. The impact to prior periods was immaterial. As a result of the adoption, for the three months ended May 5, 2018, service costs are recorded in the same line items as other compensation costs and non-service costs are recorded in SG&A in our income statement.

Income Taxes

In the first quarter of fiscal 2019, TJX adopted ASU 2018-05 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118”, which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act. This guidance allows a company to record a provisional amount when it does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the change in the tax law during the measurement period. The measurement period ends when the company has obtained, prepared, and analyzed the information necessary to finalize its accounting, but cannot extend beyond one year. We will continue to assess our provision for income taxes as future guidance is issued.