UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report: March 28, 2001 Date of earliest event reported: March 28, 2001 Commission file number 1-655 MAYTAG CORPORATION A Delaware Corporation I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 42-0401785 403 West Fourth Street North, Newton, Iowa 50208 Registrant's telephone number: 641-792-7000 N/A (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) 1 Item 5. Other Events On March 27, 2001, Maytag Corporation indicated it expects to recognize a tax benefit in the first quarter of approximately $42 million, or $ 0.53 per share, associated with an Internal Revenue Service audit settlement. Maytag also said it expects earnings per share in the quarter, excluding the impact of the tax benefit, to be improved over the fourth quarter of 2000, as it had previously indicated, however, stated it will be a challenge to achieve the current consensus estimate of $0.45 per share as reported by First Call. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits. The exhibits accompanying this report are listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index. 2 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Maytag Corporation (Registrant) By: /s/ S. H. Wood S. H. Wood Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer March 28, 2001 (Date) 3 EXHIBIT INDEX The following exhibit is filed herewith. Exhibit No. Exhibit 99(a) Press Release. 4