content: <PAGE>
  
  
       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2002
  
                                                              File No. 333-_______
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
                                        Under
  
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                               THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                 DELAWARE                                  04-2207613
      (State or other jurisdiction                      (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)
  
  
                                 770 Cochituate Road
                           Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
            (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
  
                                STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                1993 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                              (Full title of the plans)
  
                                 DONALD G. CAMPBELL
                          Executive Vice President-Finance
                               The TJX Companies, Inc.
                                 770 Cochituate Road
                           Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
                                   (508) 390-1000
   (Name, Address and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
  
                                     COPIES TO:
       Jay H. Meltzer, Esq.                            Mary E. Weber, Esq.
       The TJX Companies, Inc.                         Ropes & Gray
       770 Cochituate Road                             One International Place
       Framingham, MA 01701                            Boston, MA  02110
       (508) 390-1000                                  (617) 951-7000
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  =====================================================================================================================
                                                     Proposed maximum          Proposed maximum
  Title of Securities        Amount to be            offering price            aggregate offering      Amount of
  to be registered           Registered(1)           per share(2)              price(2)                registration fee
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                        <C>                     <C>                       <C>                     <C>
  Common Stock,
  par value $1.00            12,500,000 shares       $42.48                    $531,054,687.50         $48,858.00
  =====================================================================================================================
  </TABLE>
  
  (1)  Plus such additional number of shares as may be issued under the Plans as a
       result of stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions.
  
  
  (2)  Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) on the basis of the average of the high
       and low prices of the Common Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange
       Composite Transactions Tape on April 22, 2002.
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
                                  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  
  
       This Registration Statement registers 12,500,000 additional shares of
  Common Stock, $1.00 par value, to be offered pursuant to the Stock Incentive
  Plan of The TJX Companies, Inc. Registration Statement (No. 33-12220),
  Registration Statement (No. 33-49747), and Registration Statement (No.
  333-35073) are currently effective and the contents of these Registration
  Statements are incorporated herein by reference.
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                        -2-
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
  certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
  Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Framingham, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
  on this 22nd day of April, 2002.
  
                                           The TJX Companies, Inc.
  
  
                                           By: /s/ Donald G. Campbell
                                              ------------------------------------
                                              Name:   Donald G. Campbell
                                              Title:  Executive Vice President-
                                                      Finance
  
                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
       Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below
  hereby authorizes and constitutes Edmond J. English, Donald G. Campbell and Jay
  H. Meltzer, with full power of substitution, to execute in the name of and on
  behalf of such person any amendment (including any post-effective amendment) to
  this Registration Statement, and any subsequent registration statement for the
  same offering that may be filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and
  to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
  therewith, making such changes in this Registration Statement and any subsequent
  registration statement under Rule 462(b) as the person(s) so acting deems
  appropriate.
  
  /s/ Edmond J. English                    Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  Edmond J. English, President
  and Principal Executive Officer
  and Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Donald G. Campbell                   Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  Donald G. Campbell, Executive
  Vice President - Finance,
  Principal Financial and
  Accounting Officer
  
  
  
  /s/ David A. Brandon                     Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  David A. Brandon, Director
  
  
  
                                        -3-
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  /s/ Bernard Cammarata                    Dated:  April 23, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  Bernard Cammarata, Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Gary L. Crittenden                   Dated:  April 22, 2002
  ------------------------------------
  Gary L. Crittenden, Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Gail Deegan                          Dated:  April 22, 2002
  ------------------------------------
  Gail Deegan, Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Dennis F. Hightower                  Dated:  April 19, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Dennis F. Hightower, Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Richard Lesser                       Dated:  April 24, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Richard Lesser, Director
  
  
  
                                           Dated:  April   , 2002
  -------------------------------------
  John F. O'Brien, Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Robert F. Shapiro                    Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Robert F. Shapiro, Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Willow B. Shire                      Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Willow B. Shire, Director
  
  
  
  /s/ Fletcher H. Wiley                    Dated:  April 19, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Fletcher H. Wiley, Director
  
  
  
                                        -4-
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  NUMBER           TITLE OF EXHIBIT
  ------           ----------------
  4                The TJX Companies, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as amended
                   through June 5, 2001, is incorporated herein by reference to
                   Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended
                   July 28, 2001.*
  
  5                Opinion of Ropes & Gray
  
  23.1             Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
  
  23.2             Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in the opinion filed as
                   Exhibit 5 hereto)
  
  24               Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
                   Statement under the caption "Signatures").
  
  
  
                                        -5-
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "b42919s8s-8.txt", "description": "THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8400}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TJX COMPANIES INC /DE/", "cik": "0000109198", "assigned-sic": "5651", "irs-number": "042207613", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0127"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-86966", "film-number": "02621219"}, "business-address": {"street1": "770 COCHITUATE RD", "city": "FRAMINGHAM", "state": "MA", "zip": "01701", "phone": "508-390-2662"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "770 COCHITUATE ROAD", "city": "FRAMINGHAM", "state": "MA", "zip": "01701"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "ZAYRE CORP", "date-changed": "19890625"}}
text: As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2002
  
                                                              File No. 333-_______
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
                                        Under
  
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                               THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                 DELAWARE                                  04-2207613
      (State or other jurisdiction                      (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation or organization)                  Identification No.)
  
                                 770 Cochituate Road
                           Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
            (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
  
                                STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                1993 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                              (Full title of the plans)
  
                                 DONALD G. CAMPBELL
                          Executive Vice President-Finance
                               The TJX Companies, Inc.
                                 770 Cochituate Road
                           Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
                                   (508) 390-1000
   (Name, Address and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
  
                                     COPIES TO:
       Jay H. Meltzer, Esq.                            Mary E. Weber, Esq.
       The TJX Companies, Inc.                         Ropes & Gray
       770 Cochituate Road                             One International Place
       Framingham, MA 01701                            Boston, MA  02110
       (508) 390-1000                                  (617) 951-7000
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  =====================================================================================================================
                                                     Proposed maximum          Proposed maximum
  Title of Securities        Amount to be            offering price            aggregate offering      Amount of
  to be registered           Registered(1)           per share(2)              price(2)                registration fee
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock,
  par value $1.00            12,500,000 shares       $42.48                    $531,054,687.50         $48,858.00
  =====================================================================================================================
  (1)  Plus such additional number of shares as may be issued under the Plans as a
       result of stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions.
  
  (2)  Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h) on the basis of the average of the high
       and low prices of the Common Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange
       Composite Transactions Tape on April 22, 2002.
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  
       This Registration Statement registers 12,500,000 additional shares of
  Common Stock, $1.00 par value, to be offered pursuant to the Stock Incentive
  Plan of The TJX Companies, Inc. Registration Statement (No. 33-12220),
  Registration Statement (No. 33-49747), and Registration Statement (No.
  333-35073) are currently effective and the contents of these Registration
  Statements are incorporated herein by reference.
  
                                        -2-
  SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
  certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
  Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
  duly authorized, in the City of Framingham, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
  on this 22nd day of April, 2002.
  
                                           The TJX Companies, Inc.
  
                                           By: /s/ Donald G. Campbell
                                              ------------------------------------
                                              Name:   Donald G. Campbell
                                              Title:  Executive Vice President-
                                                      Finance
  
                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
       Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below
  hereby authorizes and constitutes Edmond J. English, Donald G. Campbell and Jay
  H. Meltzer, with full power of substitution, to execute in the name of and on
  behalf of such person any amendment (including any post-effective amendment) to
  this Registration Statement, and any subsequent registration statement for the
  same offering that may be filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and
  to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
  therewith, making such changes in this Registration Statement and any subsequent
  registration statement under Rule 462(b) as the person(s) so acting deems
  appropriate.
  
  /s/ Edmond J. English                    Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  Edmond J. English, President
  and Principal Executive Officer
  and Director
  
  /s/ Donald G. Campbell                   Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  Donald G. Campbell, Executive
  Vice President - Finance,
  Principal Financial and
  Accounting Officer
  
  /s/ David A. Brandon                     Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  David A. Brandon, Director
  
                                        -3-
  /s/ Bernard Cammarata                    Dated:  April 23, 2002
  -----------------------------------
  Bernard Cammarata, Director
  
  /s/ Gary L. Crittenden                   Dated:  April 22, 2002
  ------------------------------------
  Gary L. Crittenden, Director
  
  /s/ Gail Deegan                          Dated:  April 22, 2002
  ------------------------------------
  Gail Deegan, Director
  
  /s/ Dennis F. Hightower                  Dated:  April 19, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Dennis F. Hightower, Director
  
  /s/ Richard Lesser                       Dated:  April 24, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Richard Lesser, Director
  
                                           Dated:  April   , 2002
  -------------------------------------
  John F. O'Brien, Director
  
  /s/ Robert F. Shapiro                    Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Robert F. Shapiro, Director
  
  /s/ Willow B. Shire                      Dated:  April 22, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Willow B. Shire, Director
  
  /s/ Fletcher H. Wiley                    Dated:  April 19, 2002
  -------------------------------------
  Fletcher H. Wiley, Director
  
                                        -4-
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  NUMBER           TITLE OF EXHIBIT
  ------           ----------------
  4                The TJX Companies, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as amended
                   through June 5, 2001, is incorporated herein by reference to
                   Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended
                   July 28, 2001.*
  
  5                Opinion of Ropes & Gray
  
  23.1             Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
  
  23.2             Consent of Ropes & Gray (contained in the opinion filed as
                   Exhibit 5 hereto)
  
  24               Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
                   Statement under the caption "Signatures").
  
                                        -5-