Income taxes	9 Months Ended
Nov. 01, 2014
Income taxes	4. Income taxes Signet has business activity in all states within the US and files income tax returns for the US federal jurisdiction and all applicable states. Signet also files income tax returns in the UK, Canada and certain other foreign jurisdictions. Signet is subject to examination by the US federal and state and Canadian tax authorities for tax years ending after November 1, 2008 and is subject to examination by the UK tax authority for tax years ending after January 31, 2012. As of November 1, 2014, Signet had $6.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions, all of which would favorably affect the effective income tax rate if resolved in Signet’s favor. The unrecognized tax benefits increased by $1.7 million during the 39 week period ended November 1, 2014 related to positions taken by Zale Corporation prior to the Acquisition. The unrecognized tax benefits relate primarily to financing arrangements and intra-group charges which are subject to different and changing interpretations of tax law. Signet recognizes accrued interest and, where appropriate, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. As of November 1, 2014, Signet had accrued interest of $1.1 million. The accrued interest increased by $0.8 million during the 39 week period ended November 1, 2014 related to tax positions taken by Zale Corporation prior to the Acquisition. Signet had $0.6 million of accrued penalties as of November 1, 2014, all of which related to tax positions taken by Zale Corporation prior to the Acquisition. Over the next twelve months, management believes that it is reasonably possible that there could be a reduction of substantially all of the unrecognized tax benefits as of November 1, 2014, due to settlement of the uncertain tax positions with the tax authorities.

Income taxes

9 Months Ended

Nov. 01, 2014

4. Income taxes

Signet has business activity in all states within the US and files income tax returns for the US federal jurisdiction and all applicable states. Signet also files income tax returns in the UK, Canada and certain other foreign jurisdictions. Signet is subject to examination by the US federal and state and Canadian tax authorities for tax years ending after November 1, 2008 and is subject to examination by the UK tax authority for tax years ending after January 31, 2012.

As of November 1, 2014, Signet had $6.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions, all of which would favorably affect the effective income tax rate if resolved in Signet’s favor. The unrecognized tax benefits increased by $1.7 million during the 39 week period ended November 1, 2014 related to positions taken by Zale Corporation prior to the Acquisition. The unrecognized tax benefits relate primarily to financing arrangements and intra-group charges which are subject to different and changing interpretations of tax law.

Signet recognizes accrued interest and, where appropriate, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. As of November 1, 2014, Signet had accrued interest of $1.1 million. The accrued interest increased by $0.8 million during the 39 week period ended November 1, 2014 related to tax positions taken by Zale Corporation prior to the Acquisition. Signet had $0.6 million of accrued penalties as of November 1, 2014, all of which related to tax positions taken by Zale Corporation prior to the Acquisition.

Over the next twelve months, management believes that it is reasonably possible that there could be a reduction of substantially all of the unrecognized tax benefits as of November 1, 2014, due to settlement of the uncertain tax positions with the tax authorities.