Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	$ (492,373)	$ (567,036)
Purchases of AFS securities	(45,158)	(67,474)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	55,615	53,098
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	24,340	23,608
Purchases of property & equipment	(86,926)	(60,720)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	20,927	10,442
Loans made to franchisees	(22,114)	(20,670)
Repayments from franchisees	15,883	8,303
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net	15,255	10,218
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(64,032)	(64,079)
Repayments of other borrowings		(30,831)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt	0	497,185
Customer banking deposits, net	(275,800)	(37,913)
Dividends paid	(109,324)	(108,428)
Repurchase of common stock	(5,329)	(339,919)
Proceeds from stock options	24,536	1,288
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net	(26,619)	(33,004)
Net cash used in financing activities	(392,536)	(51,622)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(7,871)	(696)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(956,812)	(683,433)
Cash & cash equivalents	790,772	1,260,901
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	799	(367)
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Purchases of property & equipment
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Intercompany advances (payments)	89,318	447,426
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	89,318	447,426
Repayments of other borrowings
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt
Customer banking deposits, net
Dividends paid	(109,324)	(108,428)
Repurchase of common stock	(5,329)	(339,919)
Proceeds from stock options	24,536	1,288
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net
Net cash used in financing activities	(90,117)	(447,059)
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash & cash equivalents
Block Financial Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	46,969	2,026
Purchases of AFS securities	(45,158)	(67,474)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	55,615	53,064
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	24,340	23,608
Purchases of property & equipment	(57)	(912)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Loans made to franchisees	(22,114)	(20,670)
Repayments from franchisees	15,883	8,303
Other, net	11,368	5,023
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	39,877	942
Repayments of other borrowings
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt		(497,185)
Customer banking deposits, net	(278,077)	(37,890)
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	23,036	(475,147)
Other, net		(10,491)
Net cash used in financing activities	(255,041)	(26,343)
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(168,195)	(23,375)
Cash & cash equivalents	389,915	491,772
Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	(540,141)	(568,695)
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities		34
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Purchases of property & equipment	(86,869)	(59,808)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	20,927	10,442
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Other, net	3,887	5,195
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(103,909)	(65,021)
Repayments of other borrowings		(30,831)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt
Customer banking deposits, net
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	(112,354)	27,721
Other, net	(26,619)	(22,513)
Net cash used in financing activities	(138,973)	(25,623)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(7,871)	(696)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(790,894)	(660,035)
Cash & cash equivalents	401,303	769,995
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Purchases of property & equipment
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Intercompany advances (payments)	(89,318)	(447,426)
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(89,318)	(447,426)
Repayments of other borrowings
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt
Customer banking deposits, net	2,277	(23)
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	89,318	447,426
Other, net
Net cash used in financing activities	91,595	447,403
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	2,277	(23)
Cash & cash equivalents	$ (446)	$ (866)