CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Jan. 31, 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	$ (1,467,791)	$ (1,347,456)
Capital expenditures	(66,510)	(79,982)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(450,282)	(42,428)
Franchise loans funded	(32,890)	(16,875)
Payments from franchisees	14,604	15,149
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	45,376	4,877
Net cash used in investing activities	(489,702)	(119,259)
Repayments of line of credit borrowings	(285,000)	(230,000)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	1,320,000	615,000
Dividends paid	(154,827)	(154,866)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(256,199)	(102,152)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	2,074	2,527
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	(14,136)	(20,126)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	611,912	110,383
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	(359)	(2,217)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	(1,345,940)	(1,358,549)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,707,727	1,663,678
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	361,787	305,129
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Franchise loans funded	0	0
Payments from franchisees	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	1,058,569	273,070
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	1,058,569	273,070
Dividends paid	0	0
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(1,058,569)	(273,070)
Other, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,058,569)	(273,070)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	0	0
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Franchise loans funded	0	0
Payments from franchisees	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Dividends paid	(154,827)	(154,866)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(256,199)	(102,152)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	2,074	2,527
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	408,952	254,491
Other, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	0	0
Block Financial (Issuer) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(354,155)	(359,101)
Capital expenditures	(12)	(166)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Franchise loans funded	(32,676)	(16,198)
Payments from franchisees	14,135	14,834
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(649,617)	(18,579)
Other, net	(10,478)	(4,746)
Net cash used in investing activities	(678,648)	(24,855)
Repayments of line of credit borrowings	(285,000)	(230,000)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	1,320,000	615,000
Dividends paid	0	0
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	0	(668)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,035,000	384,332
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	2,197	376
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	4,109	4,346
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	6,306	4,722
Other Subsidiaries | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(1,113,636)	(988,355)
Capital expenditures	(66,498)	(79,816)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(450,282)	(42,428)
Franchise loans funded	(214)	(677)
Payments from franchisees	469	315
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(408,952)	(254,491)
Other, net	55,854	9,623
Net cash used in investing activities	(869,623)	(367,474)
Dividends paid	0	0
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	649,617	18,579
Other, net	(14,136)	(19,458)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	635,481	(879)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	(359)	(2,217)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	(1,348,137)	(1,358,925)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,703,618	1,659,332
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$ 355,481	$ 300,407