Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) segment	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Net revenue:
Total net revenue	$ 696	$ 2,135	$ 749	$ 612	$ 649	$ 2,318	$ 711	$ 565	$ 4,192	$ 4,243	$ 3,946
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations	$ (130)	$ 1,066	$ (89)	$ (109)	$ (55)	$ 1,487	$ (55)	$ (77)	738	1,300	1,208
Unallocated corporate items:
Amortization of acquired technology									(30)	(18)	(13)
Amortization of other acquired intangible assets									(12)	(7)	(17)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges									$ 148	0	0
Segment Information (Textuals)
Number of Reportable Segments | segment									3
Small Business segment
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									$ 2,108	2,158	1,988
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									696	852	806
Consumer Tax segment
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									1,800	1,663	1,552
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									1,131	1,075	964
Professional Tax segment
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									284	422	406
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									108	268	260
Operating Segments
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									1,935	2,195	2,030
Segment Reconciling Items
Unallocated corporate items:
Share-based compensation expense									(242)	(186)	(166)
Other common expenses									(765)	(684)	(626)
Amortization of acquired technology									(30)	(18)	(13)
Amortization of other acquired intangible assets									(12)	(7)	(17)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges									148	0	0
Total unallocated corporate items									$ (1,197)	$ (895)	$ (822)
International | Maximum
Segment Information (Textuals)
International Total Net Revenue As A Percentage Of Total									5.00%	5.00%	5.00%