Income taxes	9 Months Ended
Nov. 03, 2017
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 2013 and earlier tax years are not open for further examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS, at its discretion, may choose to examine the Company’s 2014 through 2016 fiscal year income tax filings. The Company has various state income tax examinations that are currently in progress. Generally, the Company’s 2012 and later tax years remain open for examination by the various state taxing authorities. As of November 3, 2017, the total reserves for uncertain tax benefits, interest expense related to income taxes and potential income tax penalties were $1.3 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively, for a total of $2.9 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 $0.3 million in the coming twelve months principally as a result of the effective settlement of uncertain tax positions. As of November 3, 2017, approximately $1.3 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 each of the 13-week and 39-week periods ended November 3, 2017 were 35.8% and 36.8%, respectively, compared to rates of 36.2% and 36.1%, respectively, for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended October 28, 2016. The tax rate for the 2017 13-week period was lower than the 13-week comparable 2016 period primarily due to the recognition of greater federal Work Opportunity Tax Credits in the 2017 period. The tax rate for the 2017 39-week period was higher than the comparable 2016 period primarily due to recognition of a tax benefit in the 2016 period associated with stock based compensation that did not reoccur, to the same extent, in the 2017 period.

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 2013 and earlier tax years are not open for further examination by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS, at its discretion, may choose to examine the Company’s 2014 through 2016 fiscal year income tax filings. The Company has various state income tax examinations that are currently in progress. Generally, the Company’s 2012 and later tax years remain open for examination by the various state taxing authorities.

As of November 3, 2017, the total reserves for uncertain tax benefits, interest expense related to income taxes and potential income tax penalties were $1.3 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million, respectively, for a total of $2.9 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 $0.3 million in the coming twelve months principally as a result of the effective settlement of uncertain tax positions. As of November 3, 2017, approximately $1.3 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 each of the 13-week and 39-week periods ended November 3, 2017 were 35.8% and 36.8%, respectively, compared to rates of 36.2% and 36.1%, respectively, for the 13-week and 39-week periods ended October 28, 2016. The tax rate for the 2017 13-week period was lower than the 13-week comparable 2016 period primarily due to the recognition of greater federal Work Opportunity Tax Credits in the 2017 period. The tax rate for the 2017 39-week period was higher than the comparable 2016 period primarily due to recognition of a tax benefit in the 2016 period associated with stock based compensation that did not reoccur, to the same extent, in the 2017 period.