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Taxes on Earnings
3 Months Ended
May 05, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Taxes on Earnings
Taxes on Earnings

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act” or "tax reform") was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The Tax Act made significant changes to U.S. corporate taxation, including reducing the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. For the three months ended May 5, 2018, the Company’s provision for taxes on earnings differed from the Company’s federal corporate income tax rate of 21%, primarily because of the effects of state and local taxes, the net tax benefit associated with share-based compensation, and resolution of tax positions with taxing authorities. These items resulted in an effective tax rate for the three months ended May 5, 2018 of 23% as compared to 36% for the three months ended April 29, 2017.

Also on December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the impact of the Tax Act. As permitted by SAB 118, the Company recorded provisional amounts for both current and deferred income taxes related to the reduced U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in fiscal 2017. The recorded provisional amounts totaling $80.1 million of tax benefit, reflect assumptions made based upon the Company’s current interpretation of the Tax Act, and may change as the Company receives additional clarification and guidance in the form of technical corrections to the Tax Act or regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury. As of May 5, 2018, the Company has not recorded any adjustment to the provisional amounts recorded in fiscal 2017.

As of May 5, 2018, February 3, 2018, and April 29, 2017, the reserves for unrecognized tax benefits were $125.6 million, $121.3 million, and $103.2 million inclusive of $24.0 million, $22.6 million, and $18.7 million of related interest and penalties, respectively. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a part of its provision for taxes on earnings. If recognized, $84.4 million would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The difference between the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits and the amounts that would impact the effective tax rate relates to amounts attributable to deferred income tax assets and liabilities. These amounts are net of federal and state income taxes.

It is reasonably possible that certain federal and state tax matters may be concluded or statutes of limitations may lapse during the next twelve months. Accordingly, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $8.6 million.

The Company is open to audit by the Internal Revenue Service under the statute of limitations for fiscal years 2013 through 2017. The Company’s state income tax returns are generally open to audit under the various statutes of limitations for fiscal years 2013 through 2017. Certain federal and state tax returns are currently under audit by various tax authorities. The Company does not expect the results of these audits to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.