Fair Value Measurement Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Summary Of Carrying Amounts And Estimated Fair Values Of Company's Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents, Carrying Amount	$ 2,007,190	$ 2,185,307	$ 1,747,584	$ 1,944,334
Cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value	2,007,190	2,185,307
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted, Carrying Amount	91,972	115,319
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted, Estimated Fair Value	91,972	115,319
Receivables, net - short-term, Carrying Amount	167,964us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	191,618us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Receivables, net - short-term, Estimated Fair Value	167,964	191,618
Mortgage loans held for investment, less allowance for loan losses of $7,886 and $11,272	239,338	268,428
Mortgage loans held for investment, net, Estimated Fair Value	190,196	192,281
Investments in available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value	441,709us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities	427,824us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Receivables, Long-term	80,867	111,795
Receivables, net - long-term, Carrying Amount	80,867us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetNoncurrent	111,795us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetNoncurrent
Receivables, net - long-term, Estimated Fair Value	80,867	104,678
Receivables, net - long term, Carrying Amount		104,678
Deposits, Carrying Amount	744,699hrb_CustomerDeposits	770,288hrb_CustomerDeposits
Deposits, Estimated Fair Value	737,261us-gaap_DepositsFairValueDisclosure	765,376us-gaap_DepositsFairValueDisclosure
Long-term borrowings, Carrying Amount	506,088us-gaap_LongTermDebt	906,474us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Long-term borrowings, Estimated Fair Value	556,769us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue	955,050us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Contingent acquisition liabilities, Carrying Amount	10,667	9,206
Contingent acquisition liabilities, Estimated Fair Value	$ 10,667	$ 9,206

Fair Value Measurement Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Summary Of Carrying Amounts And Estimated Fair Values Of Company's Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Apr. 30, 2015

Apr. 30, 2014

Apr. 30, 2013

Apr. 30, 2012

Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]

Cash and cash equivalents, Carrying Amount

$ 2,007,190us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue

$ 2,185,307us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue

$ 1,747,584us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue

$ 1,944,334us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue

Cash and cash equivalents, Estimated Fair Value

2,007,190us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure

2,185,307us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure

Cash and cash equivalents - restricted, Carrying Amount

91,972us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent

115,319us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent

Cash and cash equivalents - restricted, Estimated Fair Value

91,972hrb_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrentFairValue

115,319hrb_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrentFairValue

Receivables, net - short-term, Carrying Amount

167,964us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent

191,618us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent

Receivables, net - short-term, Estimated Fair Value

167,964hrb_AccountsReceivableNetCurrentEstimatedFairValue

191,618hrb_AccountsReceivableNetCurrentEstimatedFairValue

Mortgage loans held for investment, less allowance for loan losses of $7,886 and $11,272

239,338us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount

268,428us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount

Mortgage loans held for investment, net, Estimated Fair Value

190,196us-gaap_MortgagesHeldForSaleFairValueDisclosure

192,281us-gaap_MortgagesHeldForSaleFairValueDisclosure

Investments in available-for-sale securities, Estimated Fair Value

441,709us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities

427,824us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities

Receivables, Long-term

80,867us-gaap_NotesAndLoansReceivableGrossNoncurrent

111,795us-gaap_NotesAndLoansReceivableGrossNoncurrent

Receivables, net - long-term, Carrying Amount

80,867us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetNoncurrent

111,795us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetNoncurrent

Receivables, net - long-term, Estimated Fair Value

80,867hrb_AccountsReceivableNetNoncurrentEstimatedFairValue

104,678hrb_AccountsReceivableNetNoncurrentEstimatedFairValue

Receivables, net - long term, Carrying Amount

104,678us-gaap_NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent

Deposits, Carrying Amount

744,699hrb_CustomerDeposits

770,288hrb_CustomerDeposits

Deposits, Estimated Fair Value

737,261us-gaap_DepositsFairValueDisclosure

765,376us-gaap_DepositsFairValueDisclosure

Long-term borrowings, Carrying Amount

506,088us-gaap_LongTermDebt

906,474us-gaap_LongTermDebt

Long-term borrowings, Estimated Fair Value

556,769us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue

955,050us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue

Contingent acquisition liabilities, Carrying Amount

10,667us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability

9,206us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability

Contingent acquisition liabilities, Estimated Fair Value

$ 10,667hrb_CusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationAtFairValue

$ 9,206hrb_CusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationAtFairValue

- Definition

Accounts receivable net current, estimated fair value

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- Definition

Accounts receivable net, noncurrent, estimated fair value

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- Definition

Cusiness Combination, Contingent Consideration, at Fair Value

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- Definition

Customer Deposits

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Restricted cash and investments current, fair value

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

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- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, more than one year from the balance sheet date, for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

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- Definition

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Topic 320

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-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (aa)

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49167202&loc=d3e26610-111562

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- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph b

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-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 25

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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-Glossary Cash

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

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-Glossary Cash Equivalents

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

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-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3044-108585

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- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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- Definition

Fair value portion of deposit liabilities held by the entity, including, but not limited to, foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing, demand deposits, saving deposits, negotiable orders of withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale.

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-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

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- Definition

Fair value portion of mortgage loans held-for-sale.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s) more than one year from the balance sheet date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

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- Definition

An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date more than one year from the balance sheet date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the debt. The debt also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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- Definition

The current cash, cash equivalents and investments that are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. Includes current cash equivalents and investments that are similarly restricted as to withdrawal, usage or disposal.

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