Receivables (Schedule Of Activity In The Allowance For Doubtful Accounts) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 51,746	$ 52,969	$ 52,578
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		57,703
Provision	2,724	6,111
Charge-offs	(3,556)	(7,753)
Ending balance		56,061
Emerald Advance lines of credit
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	7,910		7,530
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		7,390
Provision	380	0
Charge-offs	0	0
Ending balance		7,390
Loans to franchisees
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	0		0
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		0
Provision	0	0
Charge-offs	0	0
Ending balance		0
Receivables for tax preparation and related fees
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	2,077		3,002
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		2,769
Provision	149	188
Charge-offs	(1,074)	(479)
Ending balance		2,478
All Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	41,759		42,046
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		47,544
Provision	2,195	5,923
Charge-offs	(2,482)	(7,274)
Ending balance		$ 46,193