SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  ------------

                                    FORM 8-A

                For Registration of Certain Classes of Securities
                    Pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of The
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                             THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Delaware                                    04-2207613
 (State of incorporation or organization)             (I.R.S. employer
                                                      identification no.)

 770 Cochituate Road, Framingham, Massachusetts             01701
    (Address of principal executive offices)             (zip code)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

   Title of each class                            Name of each exchange on
   to be so registered                     which each class is to be registered

Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock    New York Stock Exchange



Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      None
                                (Title of class)




                                       -1-
3135495.01





Item 1.   Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

         A description of the Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of
the Registrant will appear under the captions "Description of Series E Preferred
Stock" and  "Description  of Capital  Stock" in a  Prospectus  to be dated on or
about June 21, 1996 and filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(File No. 333-5501),  and is hereby incorporated herein by reference. As of June
18,  1996,  all of the  outstanding  shares  of the  Registrant's  New  Series A
Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock  have been  converted  by the  holders
thereof into the Registrant's Common Stock and,  accordingly,  no such shares of
Series A Preferred Stock remain outstanding.

Item 2.   Exhibits.

1.        Second  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  filed  June 5,  1985
          (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  (3i)(a) of the Form 10-K filed
          for the fiscal year ended January 28, 1995).

2.        Certificate   of  Amendment   of  Second   Restated   Certificate   of
          Incorporation filed June 3, 1986 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
          (3i)(b) of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 1995).

3.        Certificate   of  Amendment   of  Second   Restated   Certificate   of
          Incorporation filed June 2, 1987 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
          (3i)(c) of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 1995).

4.        Certificate   of  Amendment   of  Second   Restated   Certificate   of
          Incorporation  filed  June 20,  1989  (incorporated  by  reference  to
          Exhibit (3i)(d) of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28,
          1995).

5.        Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of $3.125 Series C
          Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit (3i)(f) of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28,
          1995).

6.        Certificate  of  Designations,  Preferences  and  Rights  of  Series D
          Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.1 of the Form 8-K dated November 17, 1995).

7.        Certificate  of  Designations,  Preferences  and  Rights  of  Series E
          Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.2 of the Form 8-K dated November 17, 1995).

8.        The by-laws of the Company,  as amended  (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit  (3ii)(a) of the Form 10- K for the fiscal year ended  January
          28, 1995).

9.        Standstill  and  Registration  Rights  Agreement  regarding  Series  D
          Cumulative   Convertible  Preferred  Stock  and  Series  E  Cumulative
          Convertible  Preferred Stock dated as of November 17, 1995 between the
          Registrant  and  Melville  Corporation  (incorporated  by reference to
          Exhibit  10.20 of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  January 27,
          1996).


                                       -2-
3135495.01




                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant  has duly caused this  registration  statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.


                                               THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.


                                                By   /s/Donald G. Campbell
                                                     Donald G. Campbell
                                                     Executive Vice President--
                                                     Finance

Date:  June 18, 1996




                                       -3-
3135495.01