XML 48 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Income Taxes
6 Months Ended
Aug. 29, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Income Taxes

Note 16 – Income Taxes

The Corporation’s provision for income taxes in interim periods is computed by applying its estimated annual effective tax rate against income before income tax expense for the period. In addition, non-recurring or discrete items are recorded during the period in which they occur. The magnitude of the impact that discrete items have on the Corporation’s quarterly effective tax rate is dependent on the level of income in the period. The effective tax rate was 33.8% and 26.0% for the three and six months ended August 29, 2014, respectively, and 191.9% and 51.6% for the three and six months ended August 30, 2013, respectively. The lower than statutory rate for the current period was due to both the recording of a net $3.1 million federal tax refund and related interest attributable to fiscal 2000 and the error corrections identified in the current year first quarter and recorded in accordance with ASC Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The net impact of the error corrections was a reduction to income tax expense of $4.1 million. During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Corporation identified and corrected errors in the accounting for income taxes that related to the year ended February 28, 2014. These errors primarily related to the Corporation’s failure to consider all sources of available taxable income when assessing the need for a valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets and the recognition of a liability for an uncertain tax position. These errors were the result of the significant complexity created as a result of the Merger and related transactions in fiscal 2014. See Note 1 for further information. The higher than statutory rate in the prior period was due primarily to the recording of an $8.0 million valuation allowance against certain net operating loss and foreign tax credit carryforwards which the Corporation believed at the time would expire unused as a result of the Merger.

At August 29, 2014, the Corporation had unrecognized tax benefits of $20.5 million that, if recognized, would have a favorable effect on the Corporation’s income tax expense of $18.0 million. During the six months ended August 29, 2014, the Corporation’s unrecognized tax benefits increased $1.4 million. The net increase was primarily a result of the error correction related to the uncertain tax position as discussed above which resulted in an increase of approximately $2.4 million partially offset by decreases of approximately $1.0 million due to the favorable settlement of certain state audits. It is reasonably possible that the Corporation’s unrecognized tax positions as of August 29, 2014 could decrease $2.5 million during the next twelve months due to anticipated settlements and resulting cash payments related to tax years which are open to examination.

The Corporation recognizes interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits and refundable income taxes as a component of income tax expense. During the six months ended August 29, 2014, the Corporation recognized a net benefit of $2.1 million for interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits and refundable income taxes. As of August 29, 2014, the total amount of gross accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits less refundable income taxes was a net payable of $2.2 million.

The Corporation is subject to examination by the IRS for tax years 2010 to the present and various U.S. state and local jurisdictions for tax years 2001 to the present. The Corporation is also subject to tax examination in various international tax jurisdictions, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Mexico and New Zealand for tax years 2006 to the present.