EXHIBIT 12

H&R BLOCK, INC.
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

		2002		2001		2000		1999		1998
Pretax income from continuing operations (a)		$	716,840	$	473,078	$	412,266	$	383,541	$	296,433
FIXED CHARGES:
	Interest expense		116,141		242,551		155,027		69,338		38,899
	Interest portion of net rent expense (b)		55,896		52,108		45,274		33,218		28,248
Total fixed charges			172,037		294,659		200,301		102,556		67,147
Earnings before income taxes and fixed charges		$	888,877	$	767,737	$	612,567	$	486,097	$	363,580
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges			5.2		2.6		3.1		4.7		5.4

(a)	Pretax income from continuing operations is shown with CompuServe Corporation and the Credit Card Segment as Discontinued Operations for all years presented.
(b)	One-third of net rent expense is the portion deemed representative of the interest factor.