When does Kohl’s fiscal year start and end?
Kohl’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31. FY2026 ended in late January 2026, and FY2027 runs from approximately February 1, 2026 through late January 2027. Kohl’s uses a retail fiscal calendar similar to Walmart, Target, and Macy’s, with four 13-week quarters totaling 52 weeks in a standard year.
The fiscal year affects your benefits enrollment, performance reviews, and management bonuses. Your W-2 and tax filings follow the standard January-to-December calendar year.
How often does Kohl’s pay?
Kohl’s pays associates biweekly, producing 26 paychecks per year. Payday falls on Fridays. Pay periods cover 14 calendar days each. If a Friday payday lands on a bank holiday, pay typically processes on the prior business day.
You can view pay stubs, W-2s, and manage direct deposit through MyHR Kohl’s at myhr.kohls.com. Log in with your 7-digit Associate Code. You can also reach MyHR through kohls.com by scrolling to Associate Services at the bottom of the page. The Kohl’s login portals page has the full walkthrough.
What is the quarterly breakdown for Kohl’s FY2027?
Each quarter runs roughly 13 weeks:
Q1 (February – April 2026): New fiscal year begins. Benefits changes take effect. Spring merchandise resets. Annual reviews and merit raises process.
Q2 (May – July 2026): Summer selling period. Lighter foot traffic compared to Q4. Sephora shop-in-shop locations see consistent traffic year-round, which creates a different staffing rhythm for associates in those departments. The Amazon returns counter also brings steady traffic regardless of season, which has changed how Kohl’s thinks about staffing compared to traditional department stores.
Q3 (August – October 2026): Back-to-school shopping drives traffic. Open enrollment for next year’s benefits runs during this quarter. Amazon returns counter traffic stays steady (Kohl’s accepts Amazon returns in every store). Seasonal hiring begins late in Q3. If you are interested in picking up extra hours for the holiday season, talk to your manager before seasonal hires fill the schedule.
Q4 (November 2026 – January 2027): Busiest quarter. Holiday sales, Black Friday, and Kohl’s Cash promotions drive heavy foot traffic. Seasonal workers are onboarded. Fiscal year wraps up in late January.
Does the fiscal calendar affect my employee discount?
The 15% employee discount at Kohl’s runs year-round and is not tied to the fiscal calendar. What makes the Kohl’s discount powerful is stacking: your 15% works on top of Kohl’s Cash and customer coupons, which can bring effective savings above 30%.
The discount does not have an annual reset or fiscal-year boundary. It applies from your start date through your separation date. Your spouse can also use it. Corporate rates through the employee portal provide additional deals on travel, insurance, and entertainment.
Full details are on the Kohl’s employee discounts page.
What deadlines should Kohl’s employees mark on their calendar?
Use this checklist to stay on top of every deadline that matters at Kohl’s:
- [ ] February: Fiscal year begins. New benefits elections take effect. Review your pay stub in MyHR to confirm any changes to deductions.
- [ ] Spring (March – April): Annual performance reviews process. Merit increases take effect. If you did not receive a raise, check with your manager about the review timeline.
- [ ] October (open enrollment): Choose your health, dental, vision, and other benefits for the next fiscal year. Coverage starts in February. If you miss the window, you keep your current elections unless you have a qualifying life event.
- [ ] November – December: Heaviest scheduling period. Kohl’s Cash promotions create surges in customer traffic. Seasonal workers join the team. Overtime may be available depending on your store and state.
- [ ] Late January: Fiscal year closes. Year-end data finalizes. Management bonuses calculated against fiscal year targets.
- [ ] January 31: W-2 delivery deadline. Current associates access through MyHR at myhr.kohls.com under Self Service, then Payroll, then View W-2. Former associates use the Former Associate Login (look for the blue tile on the myhr.kohls.com page, labeled “Former Associate Login and W-2 Instructions”). The Kohl’s W-2 page and former employee W-2 page cover both paths.
- [ ] April 15: IRS tax filing deadline for the prior calendar year. Make sure you have your W-2 well before this.
- [ ] Year-round: 401(k) contributions follow IRS calendar-year limits. Review your contribution rate at least once per year. Kohl’s match details are on the Kohl’s employee benefits page.
How does Kohl’s compare to other department stores?
Kohl’s sits in an unusual spot in the retail landscape. It is not a traditional department store like Macy’s, not a pure off-price retailer like TJX, and not a big-box store like Walmart. That mid-market position affects the fiscal calendar mainly in terms of seasonal hiring patterns and Q4 intensity.
Compared to Macy’s, Kohl’s has avoided the same level of mass store closures (Macy’s is closing 150 by 2027). Kohl’s stores tend to be smaller, located in suburban strip malls, and have lower operating costs. The Amazon returns partnership and Sephora shop-in-shop rollout (600+ locations now) have brought consistent foot traffic that helps stabilize the stores year-round.
The fiscal year structure is nearly identical to Macy’s and TJX. All three end in late January and use similar quarterly breakdowns. The differences are in compensation: Kohl’s 15% discount plus Kohl’s Cash stacking gives associates an effective discount that often beats Macy’s 20% (which requires a Macy’s credit card) and TJX’s 10%.
Fiscal year vs. tax year at Kohl’s
Like every other late-January fiscal year retailer, Kohl’s benefits and performance reviews follow the fiscal calendar (Feb-Jan) while your W-2 and IRS obligations follow the standard calendar year (Jan-Dec). Open enrollment in the fall bridges both: you pick your benefits during Q3 of the current fiscal year, and those elections take effect in February at the start of the next fiscal year. The January overlap between the two calendars is when things can feel hectic, with W-2 delivery, fiscal year close, and new benefits all landing in the same few weeks.
What if I am leaving Kohl’s?
If you are planning to leave, timing matters relative to the fiscal calendar. Quitting before the end of a fiscal year may affect bonus eligibility for management roles. Your PTO payout depends on your state’s laws and Kohl’s policy. Two months per year include three paychecks instead of two, and leaving right before one of those months means missing that extra check.
Before you leave, download your pay stubs from MyHR, confirm your personal email is on file, and check your state’s final paycheck rules. The Kohl’s quitting process page covers the resignation steps, and the Kohl’s final paycheck laws page has state-by-state timing. If you have questions about what happens to your benefits, the Kohl’s benefits after termination page covers COBRA, 401(k), and PTO cash-out.
For all Kohl’s employee resources, visit the Kohl’s employee resource hub. The Kohl’s HR contact guide has numbers for 844-564-5747 (main HR) and 262-703-7000 (corporate).