Taxes

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2023

Taxes Payable [Abstract]

Taxes

Taxes

Income tax expense (benefit) is as follows:

	2022						2021						2020
	Current		Deferred		Total		Current		Deferred		Total		Current		Deferred		Total
	(millions)
Federal	$	361	$	(56)	$	305	$	369	$	(21)	$	348	$	(520)	$	(179)	$	(699)
State and local	18		18		36		48		40		88		1		(148)		(147)
	$	379	$	(38)	$	341	$	417	$	19	$	436	$	(519)	$	(327)	$	(846)

The income tax expense (benefit) reported differs from the expected tax computed by applying the federal income tax statutory rate of 21% to income before income taxes. The reasons for this difference and their tax effects are as follows:

	2022		2021		2020
	(millions)
Expected tax	$	319	$	392	$	(1,006)
State and local income taxes, net of federal income taxes (a)	23		84		(140)
CARES Act carryback benefit	—		(29)		(205)
Goodwill impact	—		—		492
Tax impact of equity awards	—		—		8
Federal tax credits	(4)		(3)		(5)
Change in valuation allowance	5		(15)		24
Other	(2)		7		(14)
	$	341	$	436	$	(846)

(a) 2022 includes an income tax benefit from the favorable resolution of state income tax litigation.

The Company participates in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Compliance Assurance Program (CAP). As part of the CAP, tax years are audited on a contemporaneous basis so that all or most issues are resolved prior to the filing of the tax return. The IRS has completed examinations of 2021 and all prior tax years.

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are as follows:

	January 28, 2023		January 29, 2022
	(millions)
Deferred tax assets
Post employment and postretirement benefits	$	50	$	48
Accrued liabilities accounted for on a cash basis for tax purposes	112		100
Lease liabilities	881		917
Unrecognized state tax benefits and accrued interest	22		38
State operating loss and credit carryforwards	132		152
Other	112		95
Valuation allowance	(94)		(89)
Total deferred tax assets	1,215		1,261
Deferred tax liabilities
Excess of book basis over tax basis of property and equipment	(872)		(914)
Right of use assets	(717)		(751)
Merchandise inventories	(351)		(300)
Intangible assets	(116)		(116)
Other	(106)		(163)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(2,162)		(2,244)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(947)	$	(983)

The valuation allowance at January 28, 2023 and January 29, 2022 relates to net deferred tax assets for state net operating loss and credit carryforwards. The net change in the valuation allowance amounted to an increase of $5 million for 2022. In 2021, the net change in the valuation allowance amounted to a decrease of $15 million.

As of January 28, 2023, the Company had no federal net operating loss carryforwards, state net operating loss carryforwards, net of valuation allowances, of $696 million, which will expire between 2023 and 2042, and no state credit carryforwards, net of valuation allowances.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

	January 28, 2023		January 29, 2022		January 30, 2021
	(millions)
Balance, beginning of year	$	102	$	113	$	133
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	13		12		9
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(20)		(11)		(13)
Settlements	(4)		(2)		(4)
Statute expirations	(11)		(10)		(12)
Balance, end of year	$	80	$	102	$	113
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Current income taxes	$	4	$	14	$	6
Deferred income taxes	1		3		3
Other liabilities (b)	75		85		104
	$	80	$	102	$	113

(b) Unrecognized tax benefits not expected to be settled within one year are included within other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Additional information regarding unrecognized benefits and related interest and penalties is as follow:

	January 28, 2023		January 29, 2022
	(millions)
Amount of unrecognized tax benefits, net of deferred tax assets, that if recognized would affect the effective tax rate	$	63	$	81
Accrued federal, state and local interest and penalties	23		65
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
Current income taxes	4		32
Other liabilities	19		33

The Company classifies federal, state and local interest and penalties not expected to be settled within one year as other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and follows a policy of recognizing all interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The accrued federal, state and local interest and penalties primarily relate to state tax issues and the amount of penalties paid in prior periods, and the amounts of penalties accrued at January 28, 2023 and January 29, 2022, are insignificant. Federal, state and local interest and penalties amounted to income of $38 million for 2022, and expense of $5 million, and $1 million for 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and local jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2019. With respect to state and local jurisdictions, with limited exceptions, the Company and its subsidiaries are no longer subject to income tax audits for years before 2013. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, the Company believes that adequate amounts of tax, interest and penalties have been accrued for any adjustments that are expected to result from the years still subject to examination.