H&R Block Early Tax Season Results Consistent with Expectations

    Business Editors

    KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2005--H&R Block Inc. (NYSE:HRB) today reported that tax filing results through Feb. 28, 2005, show a 1 percent increase in the number of clients served in the company's retail operations, which is consistent with management's expectations for the period. The comparable period last year included one extra day, ending on Feb. 29, 2004.
    Digital tax solutions clients served through Feb. 28 declined 8.4 percent, resulting in a 0.8 percent decrease in total clients served.
    Tax preparation and related fees increased 7.5 percent to $1.5 billion from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, while the average fee per client rose 6.5 percent to $144.24.
    H&R Block plans to release additional business results for its U.S. tax operations before market opening on March 31, April 15 and May 6.

    Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements based upon current information and expectations. Such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Such differences could be caused by a number of factors, including but not limited to: the uncertainty that the company will achieve or exceed its revenue, earnings, and earnings-per-share growth goals or expectations for fiscal year 2005, and that actual financial results for fiscal year 2005 will fall within the guidance provided by the company; the uncertainty of the company's ability to purchase shares of its common stock; the uncertainty of the effect of any share repurchases upon the company and its shareholders; the uncertainty as to the effect on financial results of the adoption of accounting pronouncements; changes in interest rates; changes in economic, political or regulatory environments; the uncertainty of assumptions utilized to estimate cash flows from residual interests in mortgage securitizations and mortgage servicing rights; risks associated with sources of liquidity for each of the lines of business of the company; changes in competition; litigation involving the company and its subsidiaries; and risks described from time to time in reports and registration statements filed by H&R Block Inc. and its subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers should take these factors into account in evaluating such forward-looking statements.

    About H&R Block

    Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2005, H&R Block is the world's largest tax services provider, having served more than 400 million clients since 1955. The sixth largest retailer in the world, H&R Block has more than 12,000 locations serving taxpayers primarily in the United States, Canada and Australia.
    H&R Block's subsidiaries deliver tax services and financial advice, investment and mortgage services, and business accounting and consulting services. H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc. offers investment services and securities products. With approximately 1,000 financial advisors serving clients at approximately 270 locations, H&R Block Financial Advisors is a member NYSE, SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer and is not a registered investment advisor. H&R Block Mortgage Corp. offers a full range of retail mortgage services. Option One Mortgage Corp. provides mortgage services and offers wholesale mortgages through large financial institutions and a network of 32,000 independent mortgage brokers. RSM McGladrey Business Services Inc. and its subsidiaries serve mid-sized businesses and their owners with tax, accounting and business consulting services, as well as personal wealth management services. H&R Block Small Business Resources is a new business currently operating in 14 U.S. cities that serves the tax, financial and business needs of small business owners. H&R Block Small Business Resources is not a licensed CPA firm. For more information about the company, visit our Online Press Center at www.hrblock.com.

H&R BLOCK Preliminary U.S. Tax Operating Data ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (in thousands, except average fee and number of offices)

Period ------------------------------------------ 1/1-1/31 2/1-2/15 2/16-2/28 YTD 2/28 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- Tax preparation & related fees: (1) Fiscal year 2005 Company-owned offices $366,912 $436,168 $184,854 $987,934 Franchise offices 183,938 203,196 82,574 469,708 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- $550,850 $639,364 $267,428 $1,457,642 ========= ========= ========== =========== Fiscal year 2004 (2) Company-owned offices $331,913 $393,539 $193,200 $918,652 Franchise offices 169,183 181,782 86,521 437,486 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- $501,096 $575,321 $279,721 $1,356,138 ========= ========= ========== =========== Percent change ------------------------------------------------------------------- Company-owned offices 10.5% 10.8% -4.3% 7.5% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Franchise offices 8.7% 11.8% -4.6% 7.4% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Total retail offices 9.9% 11.1% -4.4% 7.5% ------------------------------------------------------------------

Total clients served: Fiscal year 2005 Company-owned offices 2,447 2,870 1,217 6,534 Franchise offices 1,406 1,548 618 3,572 Digital tax solutions (3) 1,129 694 322 2,145 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- 4,982 5,112 2,157 12,251 ========= ========= ========== =========== Fiscal year 2004 (2) Company-owned offices 2,368 2,780 1,364 6,512 Franchise offices 1,346 1,456 695 3,497 Digital tax solutions (3) 1,268 737 337 2,342 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- 4,982 4,973 2,396 12,351 ========= ========= ========== =========== Percent change Company-owned offices 3.3% 3.2% -10.8% 0.3% Franchise offices 4.5% 6.3% -11.1% 2.1% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Total retail offices 3.7% 4.3% -10.9% 1.0% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Digital tax solutions (3) -11.0% -5.8% -4.5% -8.4% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 0.0% 2.8% -10.0% -0.8% ------------------------------------------------------------------

Average fee per client served: (4) --------------------------- Fiscal year 2005 Company-owned offices $149.94 $151.97 $151.89 $151.20 Franchise offices 130.82 131.26 133.61 131.50 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- $142.97 $144.72 $145.74 $144.24 ========= ========= ========== ===========

H&R BLOCK Preliminary U.S. Tax Operating Data ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (in thousands, except average fee and number of offices)

Period ------------------------------------------ 1/1-1/31 2/1-2/15 2/16-2/28 YTD 2/28 --------- --------- ---------- -----------

Fiscal year 2004 (2) Company-owned offices $140.17 $141.56 $141.64 $141.07 Franchise offices 125.69 124.85 124.49 125.10 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- $134.92 $135.82 $135.85 $135.49 ========= ========= ========== =========== Percent change ------------------------------------------------------------------- Company-owned offices 7.0% 7.4% 7.2% 7.2% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Franchise offices 4.1% 5.1% 7.3% 5.1% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Total retail offices 6.0% 6.6% 7.3% 6.5% ------------------------------------------------------------------

Refund anticipation loans: Fiscal year 2005 Company-owned offices 1,197 1,057 191 2,445 Franchise offices 714 593 94 1,401 Digital tax solutions 12 14 3 29 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- 1,923 1,664 288 3,875 ========= ========= ========== =========== Fiscal year 2004 (2) Company-owned offices 1,184 1,092 216 2,492 Franchise offices 709 597 106 1,412 Digital tax solutions 20 24 7 51 --------- --------- ---------- ----------- 1,913 1,713 329 3,955 ========= ========= ========== =========== Percent change Company-owned offices 1.1% -3.2% -11.6% -1.9% Franchise offices 0.7% -0.7% -11.3% -0.8% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Total retail offices 1.0% -2.3% -11.5% -1.5% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Digital tax solutions -40.0% -41.7% -57.1% -43.1% ------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 0.5% -2.9% -12.5% -2.0% ------------------------------------------------------------------

--------- --------- Offices: FY 2005 FY 2004 --------- --------- Company-owned offices 5,811 5,172 Company-owned shared office locations (5) 1,296 996 --------- --------- Total company-owned offices 7,107 6,168 --------- --------- Franchise offices 3,528 3,418 Franchise shared office locations (5) 526 323 --------- --------- Total franchise offices 4,054 3,741 --------- --------- 11,161 9,909 ========= =========

(1) Includes fees received for tax return preparation services and system administration fees in fiscal year 2004. (2) Prior year numbers have been reclassified between company-owned and franchise offices for offices which commenced company-owned operations during fiscal year 2005. (3) Includes federal Taxcut software units sold, online completed and paid federal returns and online state returns only when no payment was made for a federal return. (4) Calculated as gross tax preparation and related fees divided by clients served. (5) Shared office locations include offices located within Wal-Mart, Sears and other third-party businesses.

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CONTACT: H&R Block Inc. Media Relations: Linda McDougall, 816-932-7542 lmcdougall@hrblock.com or Investor Relations: Pam Kearney, 816-932-1967 pkearney@hrblock.com

KEYWORD: MISSOURI INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING SOURCE: H&R Block Inc.

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