Receivables (Schedule Of Short-Term Receivables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current	$ 160,826	$ 210,127	$ 148,100
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent	56,238	60,407	75,275
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(56,062)	(57,011)	(53,340)
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Noncurrent	0	0	0
Receivables, net	104,764	153,116	94,760
Accounts Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	56,238	60,407	75,275
Loans to franchisees
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current	48,772	50,000	55,970
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent	46,998	46,284	61,428
Receivables for tax preparation and related fees
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current	37,303	52,327	37,751
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent	5,528	5,528	6,103
Cash Back® receivables
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current	2,630	37,663	901
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent	0	0	0
Emerald Advance® lines of credit
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current	23,495	25,092	19,373
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent	0	869	246
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(9,458)	(9,007)
Royalties and other receivables from franchisees
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current	15,348	9,997	9,851
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent	0	0	0
Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current	33,278	35,048	24,254
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent	$ 3,712	$ 7,726	$ 7,498