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Basis of Presentation and Consolidation (Policy)
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12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jan. 31, 2015
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| Basis of Presentation and Consolidation [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basis of Presentation and Consolidation | Basis of Presentation and Consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements present the results of J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and our subsidiaries (the Company or JCPenney). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We are a holding company whose principal operating subsidiary is J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc. (JCP). JCP was incorporated in Delaware in 1924, and J. C. Penney Company, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 2002, when the holding company structure was implemented. The holding company has no direct subsidiaries other than JCP, and has no independent assets or operations. The Company is a co-obligor (or guarantor, as appropriate) regarding the payment of principal and interest on JCP’s outstanding debt securities. We guarantee certain of JCP’s outstanding debt securities fully and unconditionally. |
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| Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than to calendar years.
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| Use of Estimates and Assumptions | Use of Estimates and Assumptions The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), requires us to make assumptions and use estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates relate to: inventory valuation under the retail method, specifically permanent reductions to retail prices (markdowns), permanent devaluation of inventory (markdown accruals) and adjustments for shortages (shrinkage); valuation of long-lived assets and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairments; reserves for closed stores, workers’ compensation and general liability (insurance), environmental contingencies, income taxes and litigation; and pension and other post retirement benefits accounting. |
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| Reclassifications | Reclassifications Certain reclassifications were made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. None of the reclassifications affected our net income/(loss) in any period. |
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