PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 02, 2013

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

Schedule of the components of the provision for income taxes

	FISCAL YEAR ENDED
(in thousands)	March 2, 2013		February 25, 2012		February 26, 2011
Current:
Federal	$	522,812	$	475,280	$	426,956
State and local	55,889		74,438		90,689
	578,701		549,718		517,645
Deferred:
Federal	15,710		28,695		(7,698		)
State and local	1,860		1,538		(8,302		)
	17,570		30,233		(16,000		)
	$	596,271	$	579,951	$	501,645

Schedule of the significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

(in thousands)	March 2, 2013			February 25, 2012
Deferred tax assets:
Inventories	$	33,699		$	33,058
Deferred rent and other rent credits	82,123			78,292
Insurance	55,070			53,607
Stock-based compensation	33,486			37,633
Merchandise credits and gift card liabilities	22,683			12,376
Accrued expenses	81,069			80,012
Obligations on distribution centers	42,024			—
Net operating loss carryforwards and other tax credits	42,506			—
Other	57,129			47,422
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(40,276		)	(25,510		)
Goodwill	(42,719		)	(36,590		)
Intangibles	(78,106		)	—
Other	(39,957		)	(27,228		)
	$	248,731		$	253,072

Schedule of the activity related to the gross unrecognized tax benefits from uncertain tax positions

(in thousands)	March 2, 2013			February 25, 2012
Balance at beginning of year	$	124,963		$	141,869
Increase related to current year positions	24,892			23,286
Increase related to prior year positions	1,183			12,533
Decrease related to prior year positions	(36,104		)	(33,191		)
Settlements	(15,670		)	(17,822		)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(1,372		)	(1,712		)
Balance at end of year	$	97,892		$	124,963