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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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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): July 20, 1998
H&R BLOCK, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
MISSOURI 1-6089 44-0607856
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
4400 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (816) 753-6900
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
On July 20, 1998, H&R Block, Inc. (the "Company") dismissed the accounting
firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP as its independent auditors. Deloitte & Touche LLP
and its predecessors audited the accounts of the Company from 1965 through
fiscal year 1998. The reports prepared by Deloitte & Touche LLP on the Company's
financial statements for either of the last two fiscal years did not contain any
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as
to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The decision to change the
Company's independent auditors was made by the Board of Directors of the Company
at the recommendation of their Audit Committee following a request for
proposals. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years, and any subsequent
interim period prior to July 20, 1998, there were no disagreements with Deloitte
& Touche LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure which disagreements, if not
resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte & Touche LLP, would have caused it to
make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its reports. Also,
there were no reportable events of the nature described in Regulation S-K, Item
304(a)(1)(v) during either of the Company's two most recent fiscal years and any
subsequent interim period prior to July 20, 1998.
On July 20, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the year
ending April 30, 1999, following a request for proposals made by the Company to
five accounting firms at the direction of the Audit Committee of the Board. The
Board of Directors directed the Company's management to submit the ratification
of such appointment to a vote of the shareholders of the Company at the annual
meeting of shareholders scheduled for September 9, 1998. During the two most
recent fiscal years, and any subsequent interim period prior to such
appointment, neither the Company, nor anyone acting on behalf of the Company,
consulted PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding: (i) the application of
accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed,
or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the registrant's
financial statements, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a
disagreement or a reportable event.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. Not applicable.
(b) Pro forma Financial Information. Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
16.1 Letter regarding change in Certifying Accountants dated July
27, 1998 from Deloitte & Touche LLP addressed to the Securities and
Exchange Commission filed herewith.
SIGNATURE
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.
Dated: July 27, 1998 By: /s/ Ozzie Wenich
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Ozzie Wenich, Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
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16.1 Letter regarding change in Certifying Accountants dated July
27, 1998 from Deloitte & Touche LLP addressed to the
Securities and Exchange Commission filed herewith.
EXHIBIT 16.1
July 27, 1998
Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 9-5
450 5th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Sirs/Madams:
We have read and agree with the comments in Item 4 of Form 8-K of H&R Block,
Inc. dated July 27, 1998.
Yours truly,
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Kansas City, Missouri