Income taxes	9 Months Ended
Oct. 30, 2015
Income taxes
Income taxes	3.Income taxes Under the accounting standards for income taxes, the asset and liability method is used for computing the future income tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or income tax returns. Income tax reserves are determined using the methodology established by accounting standards for income taxes which require companies to assess each income tax position taken using the following two-step approach. A determination is first made as to whether it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, based upon the technical merits, upon examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is expected to meet the more likely than not criteria, the benefit recorded for the tax position equals the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the respective tax position. The Company’s 2010 and earlier tax years are not open for further examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Due to the filing of an amended federal income tax return for the 2011 tax year, the IRS may, to a limited extent, examine the Company’s 2011 income tax filings. The IRS, at its discretion, may also choose to examine the Company’s 2012 through 2014 fiscal year income tax filings. The Company has various state income tax examinations that are currently in progress. Generally, the Company’s 2011 and later tax years remain open for examination by the various state taxing authorities. As of October 30, 2015, the total reserves for uncertain tax benefits, interest expense related to income taxes and potential income tax penalties were $7.0 million, $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for a total of $8.3 million. This total amount is reflected in noncurrent Other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the reserve for uncertain tax positions may be reduced by approximately $2.6 million in the coming twelve months principally as a result of the effective settlement of uncertain tax positions. As of October 30, 2015, approximately $7.0 million of the reserve for uncertain tax positions would impact the Company’s effective income tax rate if the Company were to recognize the tax benefit for these positions. The effective income tax rates for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended October 30, 2015 were 37.0% and 37.6%, respectively, compared to rates of 36.5% and 37.5%, respectively, for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended October 31, 2014. Both the 13-week and 39-week effective income tax rates increased primarily due to reduced benefits associated with reductions in uncertain federal and state tax positions. While both year’s income tax rates benefited by reductions in uncertain tax positions, the reductions recorded in the 2014 periods were greater than those recorded in the 2015 periods.

3.Income taxes

Under the accounting standards for income taxes, the asset and liability method is used for computing the future income tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements or income tax returns.

Income tax reserves are determined using the methodology established by accounting standards for income taxes which require companies to assess each income tax position taken using the following two-step approach. A determination is first made as to whether it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, based upon the technical merits, upon examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is expected to meet the more likely than not criteria, the benefit recorded for the tax position equals the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the respective tax position.

The Company’s 2010 and earlier tax years are not open for further examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Due to the filing of an amended federal income tax return for the 2011 tax year, the IRS may, to a limited extent, examine the Company’s 2011 income tax filings. The IRS, at its discretion, may also choose to examine the Company’s 2012 through 2014 fiscal year income tax filings. The Company has various state income tax examinations that are currently in progress. Generally, the Company’s 2011 and later tax years remain open for examination by the various state taxing authorities.

As of October 30, 2015, the total reserves for uncertain tax benefits, interest expense related to income taxes and potential income tax penalties were $7.0 million, $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for a total of $8.3 million. This total amount is reflected in noncurrent Other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the reserve for uncertain tax positions may be reduced by approximately $2.6 million in the coming twelve months principally as a result of the effective settlement of uncertain tax positions. As of October 30, 2015, approximately $7.0 million of the reserve for uncertain tax positions would impact the Company’s effective income tax rate if the Company were to recognize the tax benefit for these positions.

The effective income tax rates for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended October 30, 2015 were 37.0% and 37.6%, respectively, compared to rates of 36.5% and 37.5%, respectively, for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended October 31, 2014. Both the 13-week and 39-week effective income tax rates increased primarily due to reduced benefits associated with reductions in uncertain federal and state tax positions. While both year’s income tax rates benefited by reductions in uncertain tax positions, the reductions recorded in the 2014 periods were greater than those recorded in the 2015 periods.