Income taxes

3 Months Ended

Apr. 29, 2022

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 2017 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 2018 through 2020 fiscal year income tax filings. The Company has various state income tax examinations that are currently in progress. Generally, with few exceptions, the Company’s 2018 and later tax years remain open for examination by the various state taxing authorities.

As of April 29, 2022, the total reserves for uncertain tax benefits, interest expense related to income taxes and potential income tax penalties were $6.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.0 million, respectively, for a total of $6.5 million. This total amount is reflected in noncurrent other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

The Company’s reserve for uncertain tax positions is expected to be reduced by $1.7 million in the coming twelve months as a result of expiring statutes of limitations. As of April 29, 2022, approximately $6.2 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 rate for the 13-week period ended April 29, 2022 was 21.8% compared to a rate of 22.0% for the 13-week period ended April 30, 2021. The income tax rate for the 13-week period in 2022 was lower than the comparable 13-week period in 2021 primarily due to a decrease in pre-tax earnings in the 2022 period compared to the 2021 period while rate impacting items, such as the benefits from stock-based compensation and federal tax credits, remained materially the same in amount in both the 2022 and 2021 periods.