XML 23 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT  v2.3.0.11
Income Taxes
3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Note 8 — Income Taxes
The Company’s effective income tax rate on continuing operations was 10.8% during the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2011, compared to 17.2% during the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2010. The Company recorded $2.2 million of favorable discrete events in the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2011 and $1.9 million of favorable discrete events in the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2010. The Company expects its effective tax rate to differ from the U.S. statutory rate principally due to the impact of its operations conducted in jurisdictions with rates lower than the U.S. statutory rate and the on-going implementation of tax efficient business initiatives. The favorable difference in the overall effective tax rate for 2011 compared to 2010 is due to a decrease in the proportion of pre-tax income in relatively high tax rate jurisdictions as well as an increase in the proportion of income in relatively lower tax rate jurisdictions.
The Company has unrecognized tax benefits, inclusive of related interest and penalties, of $59.1 million and $66.5 million as of April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010, respectively. The portion of the unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective income tax rate if recognized are $27.2 million and $40.5 million, respectively.
The Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at April 30, 2011 will decrease by up to $25.9 million within the next twelve months. To the extent these tax benefits are recognized, the effective rate would be favorably impacted in the period of recognition by up to $6.5 million. The potential reduction primarily relates to potential settlements of on-going examinations with tax authorities and the potential lapse of the statutes of limitations in relevant tax jurisdictions.
The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service through 2007. The Company’s income tax returns in Hong Kong are open for examination from 2002 through present. The Company has certain state and foreign income tax returns in the process of examination or administrative appeal.