Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2024

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

INCOME TAXES

The income tax provision for the fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:

	2024		2023		2022
Current:
Federal	$	139	$	140	$	69
State	21		23		10
Current income tax provision	160		163		79
Deferred:
Federal	(24)		(4)		3
State	14		13		14
Deferred income tax provision	(10)		9		17
Total income tax provision	$	150	$	172	$	96

The Company’s effective income tax rates for the fiscal years ended December 28, 2024, December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were 23%, 25% and 27%, respectively. The determination of the Company’s overall effective income tax rate requires the use of estimates. The effective income tax rate reflects the income earned and taxed in U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions based on enacted tax law, permanent differences between book and tax items, tax credits and the Company’s change in relative income in each jurisdiction. Changes in tax laws and rates may affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities and the Company’s effective income tax rate in the future.

The reconciliation of the provision for income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21% to the Company’s income tax provision for the fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 is shown below: 

	2024		2023		2022
Federal income taxes computed at statutory rate	$	135	$	142	$	76
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	31		35		21
Stock-based compensation	(9)		(5)		(3)
Non-deductible expenses	12		10		7
Change in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	(3)		(6)		(12)
Net operating loss expirations	1		1		9
Tax credits	—		(2)		(1)
Change in unrecognized tax benefits	(17)		(3)		(1)
Total income tax provision	$	150	$	172	$	96

Temporary differences and carryforwards that created significant deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

	December 28, 2024		December 30, 2023
Deferred tax assets:
Operating lease liabilities	$	73	$	77
Workers’ compensation, general and fleet liabilities	55		47
Financing lease and other long term liabilities	118		109
Net operating loss carryforwards	30		37
Other deferred tax assets	89		108
Total gross deferred tax assets	365		378
Less valuation allowance	(7)		(10)
Total net deferred tax assets	358		368
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment	(227)		(220)
Operating lease assets	(68)		(73)
Inventories	(17)		(16)
Intangibles	(311)		(296)
Financing lease and other long term liabilities	(46)		(46)
Other deferred tax liabilities	(24)		(10)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(693)		(661)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(335)	$	(293)

The net deferred tax liabilities presented in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:

	December 28, 2024		December 30, 2023
Noncurrent deferred tax assets	$	—	$	—
Noncurrent deferred tax liability	(335)		(293)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(335)	$	(293)

The Company had tax affected state net operating loss carryforwards of $30 million as of December 28, 2024. The Company’s net operating loss carryforwards expire as follows:

	State
2025-2029	$	8
2030-2034	5
2035-2039	13
2040-2044	1
Indefinite	3
	$	30

The Company also has state credit carryforwards of $4 million.

The U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards in the income tax returns filed included unrecognized tax benefits taken in prior years. The net operating losses for which a deferred tax asset is recognized for financial statement purposes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, are presented net of these unrecognized tax benefits.

Because of the change of ownership provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, use of a portion of the Company’s domestic net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards may be limited in future periods. Further, a portion of the carryforwards may expire before being applied to reduce future income tax liabilities.

The Company maintained a valuation allowance on certain state net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards expected to expire unutilized as a result of insufficient forecasted taxable income in the carryforward period or the utilization of which is subject to limitation.

A summary of the activity in the valuation allowance for the fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:

	2024		2023		2022
Balance at beginning of year	$	10	$	16	28
Benefit recognized	(3)		(6)		(12)
Balance at end of year	$	7	$	10	$	16

The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in U.S. federal and state jurisdictions. The Company (1) records unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes and (2) adjusts these liabilities when the Company’s judgment changes because of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from the current estimate of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information is available. The Company recognizes an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits.

Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

Balance at January 1, 2022	32
Decreases due to lapses of statute of limitations	(2)
Balance at January 1, 2023	30
Decreases due to lapses of statute of limitations	(4)
Balance at December 30, 2023	26
Decreases due to lapses of statute of limitations	(18)
Positions assumed in a business combination	2
Balance at December 28, 2024	$	10

The Company estimates it is reasonably possible that the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by up to $1 million in the next 12 months as a result of the completion of various tax audits currently in process and the expiration of the statute of limitations in several jurisdictions.

Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of the end of fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $8 million, $24 million and $27 million, respectively, of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective income tax rate. The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. The Company had accrued interest and penalties of approximately $8 million and $9 million as of December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively.

The Company files U.S. federal and state income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. Our 2021 through 2023 U.S. federal income tax years, and various state income tax years from 2001 through 2023, remain subject to income tax examinations by the relevant taxing authorities. Prior to 2007, the Company was owned by Royal Ahold N.V. (“Ahold”). Ahold indemnified the Company for 2007 pre-closing consolidated U.S. federal and certain combined state income taxes, and the Company is responsible for all other taxes, interest and penalties.