XML 27 R15.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.5.0.2
Income Taxes
9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2016
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]  
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes is based on the current estimate of the annual effective tax rate and is adjusted as necessary for quarterly events. The Company’s quarterly effective tax rate does not reflect a benefit associated with losses related to certain foreign subsidiaries.
For the third quarter of 2016, the Company’s effective tax rate was 36.0% compared to 36.8% in the third quarter of 2015. The third quarter 2016 rate was lower than the Company's combined federal and state statutory rate primarily due to the resolution of certain tax matters. The third quarter 2015 rate was lower than the Company’s combined federal and state statutory rate primarily due to foreign earnings taxed at a rate lower than our combined federal and state rate.
For year-to-date 2016, the Company’s effective tax rate was 34.5% compared to 35.2% year-to-date 2015. The year-to-date 2016 rate was lower than the Company's combined federal and state statutory rate primarily due to the resolution of certain tax matters. The year-to-date 2015 rate was lower than the Company’s combined federal and state statutory rate primarily due to the foreign portion of the divestiture of our third-party apparel sourcing business.
As of October 29, 2016, any unrecognized deferred income tax liability resulting from the Company's undistributed foreign earnings from non-U.S. subsidiaries is not expected to reverse in the foreseeable future; furthermore, the undistributed foreign earnings are permanently reinvested. If the Company elects to distribute these foreign earnings in the future, they could be subject to additional income taxes. Determination of the amount of any unrecognized deferred income tax liability on these undistributed foreign earnings is not practicable because such liability, if any, is dependent on circumstances existing if and when remittance occurs.
Income taxes paid were approximately $103 million and $106 million for the third quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively. Income taxes paid were approximately $441 million and $476 million for year-to-date 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Uncertain Tax Positions
The Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits of $248 million as of January 30, 2016, of which approximately $217 million, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods. For year-to-date 2016, the Company had a net decrease to gross unrecognized tax benefits of $94 million, primarily due to the resolution of certain tax matters, resulting in a $16 million benefit to the Company's Provision for Income Taxes.
Of the total unrecognized benefits as of October 29, 2016, it is reasonably possible that $78 million could change in the next 12 months due to audit settlements, expiration of statute of limitations or other resolution of uncertainties. Due to the uncertain and complex application of tax regulations, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of audits may result in amounts which could be different from this estimate. In such case, the Company will record additional tax expense or tax benefit in the period in which such matters are effectively settled.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as components of income tax expense. As of October 29, 2016, January 30, 2016 and October 31, 2015, the Company had accrued $26 million, $38 million, and $33 million, respectively, for the payment of interest and penalties.