Note K – Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate for the first half of 2016 was 19.8% compared with 21.1% in the first half of 2015. The first six months of 2016 included a net discrete tax benefit of $17.3 million, which included a $17.6 million tax benefit related to the early adoption of the accounting standards update on stock compensation (see Note P), $3.8 million of net tax benefits related to the realization of previously unrecognized tax benefits and interest, and $4.1 million of discrete tax expense related to the effects of tax rate changes. The $17.3 million net discrete tax benefit in 2016 reduced the effective income tax rate by 3.4%. The first six months of 2015 included a net discrete tax benefit of $29.5 million, which included $33.0 million of tax benefits related to the settlement of tax audits and $5.0 million of discrete tax expense related to the effect of tax rate changes. The $29.5 million net discrete tax benefit in 2015 reduced the effective income tax rate by 5.1%. Without discrete items, the effective income tax rate for the first half of 2016 decreased by 3.0% compared with the 2015 period primarily due to a higher percentage of income in lower tax rate jurisdictions and the impact of tax law changes in the U.S.

VF files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, as well as separate and combined income tax returns in numerous state and international jurisdictions. In the U.S., the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) examinations for tax years through 2011 have been effectively settled. The examination of Timberland’s 2011 tax return is ongoing. The IRS has proposed material adjustments to Timberland’s 2011 tax return that would significantly impact the timing of cash tax payments and assessment of interest charges. The Company has formally disagreed with the proposed adjustments and, during 2015, VF filed a petition to the U.S. Tax Court to begin the process of resolving this matter. In addition, VF is currently subject to examination by various state and international tax authorities. Management regularly assesses the potential outcomes of both ongoing and future examinations for the current and prior years, and has concluded that VF’s provision for income taxes is adequate. The outcome of any one examination is not expected to have a material impact on VF’s consolidated financial statements. Management believes that some of these audits and negotiations will conclude during the next 12 months.

In February 2015, the European Union Commission (“EU”) opened a state aid investigation into rulings granted to companies under Belgium’s excess profit tax regime. On January 11, 2016, the EU announced its decision that these rulings granted by the Belgian government were illegal and ordered that tax benefits granted under these rulings should be collected from the affected companies, including VF. In March 2016, the Belgian government filed an appeal seeking annulment of the EU state aid decision. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company filed a separate appeal to the EU seeking annulment of the state aid decision.

During the second quarter of 2016, the Company received an assessment from the Belgian government regarding the amount of tax and interest due as a result of the excess profits ruling. The Company has not paid the assessed tax and interest as of the second quarter of 2016. The Company has evaluated all available information, including the technical merits of the excess profits ruling, and has concluded the amount of benefit previously recognized by the Company is the amount more likely than not to be sustained. As such, the Company has not made any additional accruals regarding the EU state aid decision. The Company does not expect the outcome of the appeals to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements in future periods.

During the first half of 2016, the amount of net unrecognized tax benefits and associated interest increased by $107.7 million to $180.8 million. Management believes that it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized income tax benefits and interest may decrease during the next 12 months by approximately $31.4 million related to the completion of examinations and other settlements with tax authorities and the expiration of statutes of limitations, of which $30.6 million would reduce income tax expense.