UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

______________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2006

 

H&R BLOCK, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Missouri

(State of Incorporation)

1-6089

(Commission File Number)

44-0607856

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

4400 Main Street, Kansas City, MO        64111

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)      (Zip Code)

 

(816) 753-6900

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01      Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On March 1, 2006, the Board of Directors of H&R Block, Inc. (the “Company”) approved two changes to the Company’s compensation program for non-employee members of the Board of Directors. Specifically, the Board of Directors approved the following changes:

 

 

An annual retainer for the Company’s presiding director of $20,000, payable in quarterly installments in the form of cash or shares of the Company’s common stock, as selected by the presiding director. The first annual quarterly installment will be paid on June 1, 2006.

 

 

The Audit Committee Chair annual retainer will now be paid in the form of cash or shares of the Company’s common stock, as selected by the Audit Committee chairman. This retainer was previously paid in cash only. This change is effective beginning with the annual quarterly installment payable on June 1, 2006.

 

There were no other changes to the Company’s non-employee director compensation program.

 

A summary describing the elements of non-employee director compensation is filed as Exhibit 10.1 attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)

Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number

Description

10.1

Summary of Non-Employee Director Compensation and Benefits.

 

 

2

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

H&R BLOCK, INC.

 

Date:

March 7, 2006

By:/s/ Bret G. Wilson              

 

 

Bret G. Wilson

 

 

Vice President and Secretary

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 10.1

Summary of Non-Employee Director Compensation and Benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1


 

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

Annual Retainer

$50,000 per year*

 

Board Meeting Fee

$2,000 per meeting

Committee Chairman Fee

$2,000 per meeting

Audit Committee Chairman Annual Retainer

$7,500 per year*

 

Committee Meeting Fee

$1,200 per meeting

Presiding Director Annual Retainer

$20,000 per year*

 

 

* Paid in four quarterly installments. The Presiding Director annual retainer and the Audit Committee Chairman annual retainer are paid in cash or shares of H&R Block, Inc. common stock as selected by the applicable director.

 

In addition, each non-employee director receives a stock option grant each June 30 for 8,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the 1989 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors.

 

Eligible non-employee directors may defer retainers and meeting fees pursuant to the H&R Block Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and the H&R Block Stock Plan for Non-employee Directors, which are described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

The Company also offers its non-employee directors free income tax preparation services at an H&R Block office of their choice, a fifty percent discount on tax preparation services from RSM McGladrey, Inc. and free business travel insurance in connection with Company-related travel. In addition, the H&R Block Foundation will match gifts by non-employee directors to any 501(c)(3) organization up to an annual aggregate limit of $5,000.