Company Description
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is a tax preparation and financial services company in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector. According to its public disclosures, H&R Block provides global tax preparation services, financial products, and small-business solutions. The company describes its purpose as providing help and inspiring confidence for its clients and communities, with a focus on outcomes at tax time and broader money management support.
H&R Block’s core operations center on income tax preparation for individuals, delivered through a mix of in-person and digital channels. The company offers assisted tax preparation in thousands of retail offices and digital do-it-yourself (DIY) tax solutions. In its financial reporting, H&R Block identifies U.S. tax preparation and related services as a major revenue category, including assisted tax preparation, DIY tax preparation, franchise royalties, refund transfers, and service plans such as Peace of Mind Extended Service Plan and Tax Identity Shield.
Beyond tax preparation, H&R Block reports activity in financial services and international operations, as well as its Wave small-business platform. Financial services revenue lines include products associated with the Emerald Card and Spruce, and interest and fee income on Emerald Advance loans. International operations and the Wave business are reported separately in the company’s segment-style revenue disclosures, highlighting additional geographic reach and a focus on small-business customers.
H&R Block emphasizes a blend of digital innovation and human expertise. The company highlights an omnichannel tax experience that allows clients to choose between fully DIY filing, hybrid models, or fully assisted preparation with a tax professional. Its digital ecosystem includes tools such as AI Tax Assist, which the company describes as a generative AI experience designed to answer tax questions, and Tax Pro Review, which allows DIY filers to have a tax professional review and sign their return before filing. H&R Block also notes offerings such as Unlimited Expert Help and tax calculators for real-time refund estimation in its online products.
In small-business services, H&R Block operates through Block Advisors and Wave. Public communications state that Block Advisors and Wave help small-business owners with year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, and payment processing solutions, in addition to tax preparation and business formation assistance. These services are positioned as part of the company’s broader strategy to support small businesses beyond the annual tax cycle.
The company also develops consumer-facing financial tools. Spruce is described as a mobile banking app built by H&R Block that helps people be better with money. Spruce offers spending and savings accounts, budgeting tools, automatic saving options, and financial insights. H&R Block references initiatives such as the Saving Surge Sweepstakes, which is designed to encourage consistent saving habits among Spruce customers, as part of its efforts to promote long-term financial stability.
H&R Block’s disclosures highlight a long history of paying quarterly dividends since becoming a public company in 1962 and note that the common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HRB. The company has communicated a focus on capital allocation through dividends and share repurchases over multiple years, and it periodically updates investors on its share repurchase authorizations and dividend levels through earnings releases and Form 8-K filings.
Corporate governance information in proxy materials and Form 8-K filings shows that H&R Block is incorporated in Missouri and maintains a board of directors elected annually by shareholders. The company conducts virtual annual meetings of shareholders and submits matters such as director elections, ratification of its independent registered public accounting firm, and advisory votes on executive compensation for shareholder approval. Recent filings also describe leadership succession planning, including a planned transition in the chief executive officer role and changes in senior finance and technology leadership.
From a financing perspective, H&R Block and its subsidiary Block Financial LLC access the debt markets under a shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR. In recent Form 8-K filings, the company reported the issuance of senior notes due 2032, guaranteed by H&R Block, under an existing indenture. These filings outline key terms such as interest rate, maturity, redemption provisions, and certain covenants related to liens, mergers, and asset transfers.
H&R Block’s business is described in its earnings releases as highly seasonal, with the majority of annual revenue generated during the main tax filing season. The company reports U.S. assisted and DIY tax preparation, financial services, international operations, and Wave as distinct revenue categories, providing insight into how it views its operating structure. Non-GAAP metrics such as adjusted earnings per share and EBITDA from continuing operations are used in its communications to help evaluate ongoing performance, with reconciliations provided in accompanying tables.
Business segments and offerings
- U.S. tax preparation and related services: Assisted tax preparation, DIY tax preparation, franchise royalties, refund transfers, Peace of Mind Extended Service Plan, Tax Identity Shield, and other related services.
- Financial services: Products and services tied to Emerald Card and Spruce, and interest and fee income on Emerald Advance loans, as described in financial disclosures.
- International: Tax preparation and related services outside the United States, reported as a separate revenue category.
- Wave: Small-business-focused services, including subscription revenue and payments volume, reported as Wave revenue.
- Small-business solutions: Through Block Advisors and Wave, year-round bookkeeping, payroll, advisory, payment processing, tax preparation, and business formation assistance for small-business owners.
- Digital tools and AI-enabled support: AI Tax Assist, Tax Pro Review, Unlimited Expert Help, and tax calculators within H&R Block’s digital tax ecosystem, as described in company communications.
Investor and governance context
H&R Block’s SEC filings and proxy materials provide details on its governance framework, including board committees, executive compensation programs, and risk oversight. The company submits annual proposals for shareholder voting, such as the election of directors, ratification of its independent auditor, and advisory approval of named executive officer compensation. It also discloses material events such as leadership transitions, debt offerings, and changes in key accounting roles through Form 8-K filings.
For investors researching HRB stock, these disclosures collectively outline a company focused on tax preparation services, financial products tied to tax and everyday money management, and small-business solutions, supported by both digital platforms and a network of tax professionals.