Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

May 04, 2013

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation: The consolidated interim financial statements are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, reflect all normal recurring adjustments, the use of retail statistics, and 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) consistently applied. The consolidated interim financial statements 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 2, 2013 (“fiscal 2013”).

Fiscal Year

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 1, 2014 (“fiscal 2014”) and is a 52-week fiscal year. Fiscal 2013 was a 53-week fiscal year.

Share-Based Compensation

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 stock option awards and the market price on the date of the award for performance-based restricted stock awards. Total share-based compensation expense was $16.5 million for the quarter ended May 4, 2013 and $14.3 million for the quarter ended April 28, 2012. These amounts include stock option expense as well as restricted and deferred stock amortization. There were options to purchase 2.2 million shares of common stock exercised during the quarter ended May 4, 2013, leaving options to purchase 34.2 million shares of common stock outstanding as of May 4, 2013.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

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. TJX’s investments are primarily high-grade commercial paper, institutional money market funds and time deposits with major banks.

As of May 4, 2013, TJX’s cash and cash equivalents held outside the U.S. were $822.5 million, of which $276.2 million was held in countries where TJX has the intention to reinvest any undistributed earnings indefinitely.

Merchandise Inventories

Merchandise Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. TJX uses the retail method for valuing inventories which results in a weighted average cost. 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 inventory is shipped. As a result, merchandise inventories on TJX’s balance sheet include an accrual for in-transit inventory of $433.5 million at May 4, 2013, $418.3 million at February 2, 2013 and $401.1 million at April 28, 2012. Comparable amounts were reflected in accounts payable at those dates.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards: There were no new accounting standards issued during the three-month period ended May 4, 2013 that are expected to have a material impact on TJX’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.