NOTE 3: RECEIVABLES

Receivables, net of their related allowance, consist of the following:



(in 000s)
As of	January 31, 2018				January 31, 2017				April 30, 2017
	Short-term		Long-term		Short-term		Long-term		Short-term		Long-term
Loans to franchisees	$	41,062	$	47,434	$	62,603	$	50,021	$	39,911	$	36,614
Receivables for U.S assisted and DIY tax preparation and related fees	299,805		6,316		263,822		5,528		23,025		6,316
Instant Cash Back® receivables	6,848		—		4,590		—		34,940		—
H&R Block Emerald Advance® lines of credit	353,972		9,081		354,027		6,398		16,202		5,069
Software receivables from retailers	7,744		—		11,864		—		16,715		—
Royalties and other receivables from franchisees	56,149		788		64,929		—		13,275		1,585
Other	26,038		3,608		26,030		4,304		18,707		3,314
	$	791,618	$	67,227	$	787,865	$	66,251	$	162,775	$	52,898

Balances presented above as short-term are included in receivables, while the long-term portions are included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

LOANS TO FRANCHISEES – Franchisee loan balances consisted of revolving lines of credit primarily for the purpose of funding off-season working capital needs and term loans made primarily to finance the purchase of franchises. As of January 31, 2018 and 2017 and April 30, 2017, loans with a principal balance of $1.3 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, were more than 90 days past due. We had no loans to franchisees on non-accrual status.

INSTANT CASH BACK® PROGRAM – Refunds advanced under the Instant Cash Back® program in Canada are not subject to credit approval. Instant Cash Back® amounts are generally received from the Canada Revenue Agency within 60 days of filing the client's return.

H&R BLOCK EMERALD ADVANCE® LINES OF CREDIT – We review the credit quality of our purchased participation interests in EA receivables based on pools, which are segregated by the year of origination, with older years being deemed more unlikely to be repaid. These amounts as of January 31, 2018, by year of origination, are as follows:



(in 000s)
Credit Quality Indicator – Year of origination:
2018	$	352,591
2017	8,342
2016 and prior	6,634
Revolving loans	23,291
	390,858
Allowance	(27,805		)
Net balance	$	363,053

As of January 31, 2018 and 2017 and April 30, 2017, $27.8 million, $25.3 million and $28.0 million of EAs were on non-accrual status and classified as impaired, or more than 60 days past due, respectively.

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS – Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for our EA and all other short-term receivables for the nine months ended January 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:



(in 000s)
	EAs		All Other			Total
Balances as of April 30, 2017	$	10,123	$	45,173		$	55,296
Provision	17,682		15,747			33,429
Charge-offs	—		(43,510		)	(43,510		)
Balances as of January 31, 2018	$	27,805	$	17,410		$	45,215

Balances as of April 30, 2016	$	9,007	$	48,004		$	57,011
Provision	22,479		7,155			29,634
Charge-offs	—		(38,914		)	(38,914		)
Balances as of January 31, 2017	$	31,486	$	16,245		$	47,731