-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ISd961wMMQ2yXn5biqJRtrvuZQNaR6q7DenXCP17WamqbTSA+F2lPLQm7tj964Mr
 bVBj5IpiQOAZGpPkRQJ9hg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001043937-04-000002.txt : 20040316
<SEC-HEADER>0001043937-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040316
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040316124322
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001043937-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040131
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040316

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			J C PENNEY CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001166126
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				260037077
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6501 LEGACY DRIVE
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024-3698
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9722431100

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	J C PENNEY HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARRIS J WAYNE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043937

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15274
		FILM NUMBER:		04671729

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
		STREET 2:		201 WILLOWBROOK BLVD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018906000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE GRAND UNION COMPANY
		STREET 2:		201 WILLOWBROOK BLVD
		CITY:			WAYNE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07470
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form5harris31604_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001166126</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>J C PENNEY CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JCP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001043937</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARRIS J WAYNE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8333 BRYAN DAIRY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LARGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33777</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chairman &amp; CEO, Eckerd</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options/ Right to Buy/ Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>450000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>450000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Varies based on option.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>***Under continuing POA as filed with the S.E.C.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>***Ralph H. Richardson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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