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Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Feb. 01, 2014
Feb. 02, 2013
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]      
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate $ 13us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate $ 7us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate $ 7us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Income tax expense, penalties and interest, (decrease)/increase (1)jwn_IncomeTaxExpensePeriodIncreaseDecreasePenaltiesandInterest 1jwn_IncomeTaxExpensePeriodIncreaseDecreasePenaltiesandInterest (1)jwn_IncomeTaxExpensePeriodIncreaseDecreasePenaltiesandInterest
Liability for interest and penalties 2us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 7us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued 7us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Estimated unrecognized tax benefits, decrease in tax position 4us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit    
State [Member]      
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards 3us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
24us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
 
Foreign [Member]      
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards 11us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
0us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
 
Federal [Member]      
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]      
Operating Loss Carryforwards   $ 4us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember