<PAGE>   1
                                                                    File No. 33-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM S-8

            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                H&R BLOCK, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                      
       MISSOURI                                       44-0607856
(State of Incorporation)                           (I.R.S. Employer
                                                  Identification No.)


                                4400 MAIN STREET
                          KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64111
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                 THIRD STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES
                              (Full Title of Plan)

                          James H. Ingraham, Secretary
                                H&R Block, Inc.
                                4400 Main Street
                          Kansas City, Missouri 64111
                                  816-753-6900
           (Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<S>                   <C>            <C>             <C>                 <C>
                                        Proposed
Title of                                maximum       Proposed maximum   Amount of
securities to be      Amount to be   offering price  aggregate offering  registration
registered            registered(1)   per share(2)        price(2)       fee(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
without par value         2,245,813      $32.75         $73,550,375.75    $25,362.20
</TABLE>

(1) Plus such additional indeterminate number of shares as may be issuable
pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the registrant's Third Stock Option
Plan for Seasonal Employees.

(2) Calculated in accordance with the provisions of Rule 457 (h)(1) pertaining
to employee stock option plans using the price at which the options may be
exercised.

Approximate date of proposed commencement of sales pursuant to the Plan:  Upon
exercise of stock options after the effective date of this Registration
Statement.


<PAGE>   2


                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The documents listed below are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and all documents subsequently filed pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing such documents.

      (a)  The registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
           Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Act which contains, either directly
           or by incorporation by reference, audited financial statements for
           the registrant's fiscal year ended April 30, 1996;

      (b)  All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
           the Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual
           Report referred to in (a) above;

      (c)  The description of the registrant's Common Stock which is
           contained in the registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-C
           dated August 6, 1969, the description of the registrant's Common
           Stock contained in the prospectus which is a part of the
           registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-14 (File No. 2-66751)
           effective April 7, 1980, and any amendment or report filed for the
           purpose of updating such description.

Item 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     The class of securities to be offered is registered under Section 12 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, therefore, a description of the
securities pursuant to Item 202 of Regulation S-K is not required.

Item 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     No expert named in the Registration Statement or counsel for the
registrant has, or is to receive in connection with the offering a substantial
interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant or any of its subsidiaries.
James H. Ingraham, who has rendered an opinion of counsel as to the legality of
the securities being registered (Exhibit 5 hereto), is employed by a subsidiary
of the registrant and is Assistant Vice President, Corporate Legal and Human
Resources, and Secretary of the registrant.






<PAGE>   3


Item 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section 351.355 of the General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri
provides as follows:


        "351.355.  1.  A corporation created under the laws of this state may
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in
the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon
a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.


        "2.  The corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or 
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed 
action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses, including attorneys' fees, and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of
the action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation;
except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was
brought determines upon application that despite the adjudication of liability
and in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem
proper.







<PAGE>   4

        "3.  To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections 1 and 2 of this section,
or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified
against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred
by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding.

        "4.  Any indemnification under subsections 1 and 2 of this section,
unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this section.  The
determination shall be made by the board of directors by a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to this action, suit or
proceeding, or if such a quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, or by the shareholders.

        "5.  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final 
disposition of the action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the board
of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless
it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the
corporation as authorized in this section.

        "6.  The indemnification provided by this section shall not be 
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or bylaws or any
agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both
as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity
while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

        "7.  A corporation created under the laws of this state shall have 
the power to give any further indemnity, in addition to the indemnity
authorized or contemplated under other subsections of this section, including
subsection 6, to any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent, or to any person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, provided such further indemnity is
either (i) authorized, directed or provided for in the articles of
incorporation of the corporation or any duly adopted amendment thereof or (ii)
is authorized, directed or provided for in any bylaw or agreement of the
corporation which has been adopted by a vote of the shareholders of the
corporation, and provided further that no such indemnity shall indemnify any
person from or on account of such person's conduct which was finally adjudged
to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful
misconduct. Nothing in this subsection




<PAGE>   5

shall be deemed to limit the power of the corporation under subsection
6 of this section to enact bylaws or to enter into agreements without
shareholder adoption of the same.

        "8.  The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf 
of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him
and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this section.

        "9.   Any provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding,
the provisions of this section shall apply to all existing and new domestic
corporations, including, but not limited to, banks, trust companies,
insurance companies, building and loan associations, savings bank and safe
deposit companies, mortgage loan companies, corporations formed for benevolent,
religious, scientific or educational purposes and nonprofit corporations.

        "10.  For the purpose of this section, references to 'the corporation'
include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or
merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such a constituent
corporation or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall stand in the same position under
the provisions of this section with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would if he had served the resulting or surviving corporation
in the same capacity.

        "11.  For purposes of this section, the term 'other enterprise'
shall include employee benefit plans; the term 'fines' shall include
any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan;
and the term 'serving at the request of the corporation' shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or
agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner 'not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation' as referred to in this
section." 

     Section 23 of the registrant's current Bylaws contains provisions which
are essentially the same as the provisions of the Missouri statute, except that
only a person who is or was a director or officer of the registrant, or is or
was serving at the registrant's request as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be
indemnified.  In addition, the Bylaws permit the registrant to enter into





<PAGE>   6

indemnification agreements with its directors and officers.  The form
of indemnification agreement approved by the registrant's shareholders and
incorporated into the Bylaws provides that indemnity is mandatory in all cases
unless it is determined by the court that the director's or officer's conduct
was knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or that it constituted willful
misconduct. In addition, no indemnification is provided if a court determines
that such indemnification would not be lawful or if a judgment is rendered
against the director or officer for an accounting of profits made as a result
of the director's or officer's purchase and sale or sale and purchase of the
registrant's securities pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and amendments thereto.  The indemnification
agreement also requires the registrant to purchase and maintain a policy or
policies of directors and officers liability insurance providing, in all
respects, coverage at least comparable to that maintained by the registrant at
the date of the agreement except that the registrant is not required to
maintain such insurance if the registrant notifies the director or officer in
writing within five business days after the making of the decision to not renew
or replace the insurance policy or policies or any portion of the coverage
provided by such policy or policies.  The registrant's Bylaws are filed as
Exhibit 3(b) to the registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended April 30, 1995, and Section 23 of such Bylaws is incorporated by
reference herein.

Item 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     No restricted securities are to be reoffered or resold pursuant to this
Registration Statement and, therefore, no exemption from registration is
claimed.


Item 8. EXHIBITS.
 
        The exhibits filed as part of the Registration Statement are as 
        follows:


4(a) Restated Articles of Incorporation of H&R Block, Inc., as amended, filed
     as Exhibit 4(a) to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
     quarter ended October 31, 1991, are incorporated by reference.

4(b) Bylaws of H&R Block, Inc., as amended, filed as Exhibit 3(b) to the
     Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30,
     1995, are incorporated by reference.

4(c) Conformed copy of Rights Agreement dated as of July 14, 1988, between H&R
     Block, Inc., and Centerre Trust Company of St. Louis, filed on August 9,
     1993, as Exhibit 4(c) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
     (File No. 33-67170), is incorporated by reference.

4(d) Copy of Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of May 9, 1990, between
     H&R Block, Inc., and Boatmen's Trust Company, filed as Exhibit 4(b) to the
     Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30,
     1995, is incorporated by reference.




<PAGE>   7



4(e) Copy of Second Amendment to Rights Agreement dated September 11, 1991,
     between H&R Block, Inc., and Boatmen's Trust Company, filed as Exhibit
     4(c) to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     April 30, 1995, is incorporated by reference.

4(f) Copy of Third Amendment to Rights Agreement dated May 10, 1995, between
     H&R Block, Inc. and Boatmen's Trust Company, filed as Exhibit 4(d) to the
     Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30,
     1995, is incorporated by reference.

4(g) Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of
     Participating Preferred Stock of H&R Block, Inc., filed as Exhibit 4(e) to
     the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April
     30, 1995, is incorporated by reference.

4(h) Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Delayed
     Convertible Preferred Stock of H&R Block, Inc., filed as Exhibit 4(f) to
     the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April
     30, 1995, is incorporated by reference.

5    Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered
     and the consent of such counsel.

23   The consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Certified Public Accountants (the
     consent of counsel is contained in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).


Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

     (1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file, during any
period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

     (2) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (3) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to remove from
registration by means of post-effective amendment any of the securities being
registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.






<PAGE>   8


     (4) If the registrant is a foreign private issuer, to file a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include any financial
statements required by 3-19 of Regulation S-X at the start of any delayed
offering or throughout a continuous offering.

     (5) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (6) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.




<PAGE>   9





                                   SIGNATURES


     The Registrant.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kansas City, and the State of
Missouri, on this  29th  day of July, 1996.

                                                H&R BLOCK, INC.
                                ----------------------------------------------



                                By/s/ Frank L. Salizzoni
                                ----------------------------------------------
                                  Frank L. Salizzoni, President
                                  and Chief Executive Officer


                      ----------------------------------




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Henry W. Bloch and Frank L. Salizzoni, or either
one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as they might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.



                      ----------------------------------



<PAGE>   10










     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signature                          Title                           Date
     ---------                          -----                           ----



/s/ Frank L. Salizzoni          President, Chief                        7/29/96
- ----------------------          Executive  Officer and Director         -------
Frank L. Salizzoni              (principal executive officer)
                       
                                        
                                         

/s/ G. Kenneth Baum             Director                                7/30/96
- -------------------                                                     -------
G. Kenneth Baum


- ------------------              Director                                
Henry W. Bloch                                                          -------



/s/ Robert E. Davis             Director                                7/30/96 
- -------------------                                                     -------
Robert E. Davis



/s/ Donna R. Ecton              Director                                7/31/96
- ------------------                                                      -------
Donna R. Ecton



/s/ Henry F. Frigon             Director                                7/31/96
- -------------------                                                     -------
Henry F. Frigon



/s/ Roger W. Hale               Director                                7/30/96
- -----------------                                                       -------
Roger W. Hale



/s/ Marvin L. Rich              Director                                7/30/96
- ------------------                                                      -------
Marvin L. Rich



- -----------------               Director                                
Morton I. Sosland                                                       -------



<PAGE>   11

Signature                                Title                          Date
- ---------                                -----                          ----



/s/ George T. Robson            Senior Vice President,                  7/31/96
- --------------------            Chief Financial Officer                 -------
George T. Robson                and Treasurer (principal
                                financial officer)
        
     

/s/ Cheryl L. Givens            Assistant Vice                          8/2/96 
- --------------------            President and Corporate                 ------
    Cheryl L. Givens            Controller (principal 
                                accounting officer)
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1
                                                                    File No. 33-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM S-8

            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                H&R BLOCK, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                      
       MISSOURI                                       44-0607856
(State of Incorporation)                           (I.R.S. Employer
                                                  Identification No.)

                                4400 MAIN STREET
                          KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64111
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                 THIRD STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES
                              (Full Title of Plan)

                          James H. Ingraham, Secretary
                                H&R Block, Inc.
                                4400 Main Street
                          Kansas City, Missouri 64111
                                  816-753-6900
           (Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed
Title of                                maximum       Proposed maximum   Amount of
securities to be      Amount to be   offering price  aggregate offering  registration
registered            registered(1)   per share(2)        price(2)       fee(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
without par value         2,245,813      $32.75         $73,550,375.75    $25,362.20
(1) Plus such additional indeterminate number of shares as may be issuable
pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the registrant's Third Stock Option
Plan for Seasonal Employees.

(2) Calculated in accordance with the provisions of Rule 457 (h)(1) pertaining
to employee stock option plans using the price at which the options may be
exercised.

Approximate date of proposed commencement of sales pursuant to the Plan:  Upon
exercise of stock options after the effective date of this Registration
Statement.
2

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The documents listed below are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and all documents subsequently filed pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing such documents.

      (a)  The registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
           Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Act which contains, either directly
           or by incorporation by reference, audited financial statements for
           the registrant's fiscal year ended April 30, 1996;

      (b)  All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
           the Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual
           Report referred to in (a) above;

      (c)  The description of the registrant's Common Stock which is
           contained in the registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-C
           dated August 6, 1969, the description of the registrant's Common
           Stock contained in the prospectus which is a part of the
           registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-14 (File No. 2-66751)
           effective April 7, 1980, and any amendment or report filed for the
           purpose of updating such description.

Item 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     The class of securities to be offered is registered under Section 12 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, therefore, a description of the
securities pursuant to Item 202 of Regulation S-K is not required.

Item 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     No expert named in the Registration Statement or counsel for the
registrant has, or is to receive in connection with the offering a substantial
interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant or any of its subsidiaries.
James H. Ingraham, who has rendered an opinion of counsel as to the legality of
the securities being registered (Exhibit 5 hereto), is employed by a subsidiary
of the registrant and is Assistant Vice President, Corporate Legal and Human
Resources, and Secretary of the registrant.
3

Item 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section 351.355 of the General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri
provides as follows:

        "351.355.  1.  A corporation created under the laws of this state may
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in
the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon
a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

        "2.  The corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or 
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed 
action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses, including attorneys' fees, and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of
the action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation;
except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was
brought determines upon application that despite the adjudication of liability
and in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem
proper.
4

        "3.  To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections 1 and 2 of this section,
or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified
against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred
by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding.

        "4.  Any indemnification under subsections 1 and 2 of this section,
unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the corporation only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this section.  The
determination shall be made by the board of directors by a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to this action, suit or
proceeding, or if such a quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable a
quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, or by the shareholders.

        "5.  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final 
disposition of the action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the board
of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless
it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the
corporation as authorized in this section.

        "6.  The indemnification provided by this section shall not be 
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or bylaws or any
agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both
as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity
while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

        "7.  A corporation created under the laws of this state shall have 
the power to give any further indemnity, in addition to the indemnity
authorized or contemplated under other subsections of this section, including
subsection 6, to any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent, or to any person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, provided such further indemnity is
either (i) authorized, directed or provided for in the articles of
incorporation of the corporation or any duly adopted amendment thereof or (ii)
is authorized, directed or provided for in any bylaw or agreement of the
corporation which has been adopted by a vote of the shareholders of the
corporation, and provided further that no such indemnity shall indemnify any
person from or on account of such person's conduct which was finally adjudged
to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful
misconduct. Nothing in this subsection
5

shall be deemed to limit the power of the corporation under subsection
6 of this section to enact bylaws or to enter into agreements without
shareholder adoption of the same.

        "8.  The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf 
of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him
and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this section.

        "9.   Any provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding,
the provisions of this section shall apply to all existing and new domestic
corporations, including, but not limited to, banks, trust companies,
insurance companies, building and loan associations, savings bank and safe
deposit companies, mortgage loan companies, corporations formed for benevolent,
religious, scientific or educational purposes and nonprofit corporations.

        "10.  For the purpose of this section, references to 'the corporation'
include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or
merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such a constituent
corporation or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall stand in the same position under
the provisions of this section with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would if he had served the resulting or surviving corporation
in the same capacity.

        "11.  For purposes of this section, the term 'other enterprise'
shall include employee benefit plans; the term 'fines' shall include
any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan;
and the term 'serving at the request of the corporation' shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or
agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner 'not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation' as referred to in this
section." 

     Section 23 of the registrant's current Bylaws contains provisions which
are essentially the same as the provisions of the Missouri statute, except that
only a person who is or was a director or officer of the registrant, or is or
was serving at the registrant's request as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be
indemnified.  In addition, the Bylaws permit the registrant to enter into
6

indemnification agreements with its directors and officers.  The form
of indemnification agreement approved by the registrant's shareholders and
incorporated into the Bylaws provides that indemnity is mandatory in all cases
unless it is determined by the court that the director's or officer's conduct
was knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or that it constituted willful
misconduct. In addition, no indemnification is provided if a court determines
that such indemnification would not be lawful or if a judgment is rendered
against the director or officer for an accounting of profits made as a result
of the director's or officer's purchase and sale or sale and purchase of the
registrant's securities pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and amendments thereto.  The indemnification
agreement also requires the registrant to purchase and maintain a policy or
policies of directors and officers liability insurance providing, in all
respects, coverage at least comparable to that maintained by the registrant at
the date of the agreement except that the registrant is not required to
maintain such insurance if the registrant notifies the director or officer in
writing within five business days after the making of the decision to not renew
or replace the insurance policy or policies or any portion of the coverage
provided by such policy or policies.  The registrant's Bylaws are filed as
Exhibit 3(b) to the registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended April 30, 1995, and Section 23 of such Bylaws is incorporated by
reference herein.

Item 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     No restricted securities are to be reoffered or resold pursuant to this
Registration Statement and, therefore, no exemption from registration is
claimed.

Item 8. EXHIBITS.
 
        The exhibits filed as part of the Registration Statement are as 
        follows:

4(a) Restated Articles of Incorporation of H&R Block, Inc., as amended, filed
     as Exhibit 4(a) to the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
     quarter ended October 31, 1991, are incorporated by reference.

4(b) Bylaws of H&R Block, Inc., as amended, filed as Exhibit 3(b) to the
     Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30,
     1995, are incorporated by reference.

4(c) Conformed copy of Rights Agreement dated as of July 14, 1988, between H&R
     Block, Inc., and Centerre Trust Company of St. Louis, filed on August 9,
     1993, as Exhibit 4(c) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
     (File No. 33-67170), is incorporated by reference.

4(d) Copy of Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of May 9, 1990, between
     H&R Block, Inc., and Boatmen's Trust Company, filed as Exhibit 4(b) to the
     Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30,
     1995, is incorporated by reference.
7

4(e) Copy of Second Amendment to Rights Agreement dated September 11, 1991,
     between H&R Block, Inc., and Boatmen's Trust Company, filed as Exhibit
     4(c) to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     April 30, 1995, is incorporated by reference.

4(f) Copy of Third Amendment to Rights Agreement dated May 10, 1995, between
     H&R Block, Inc. and Boatmen's Trust Company, filed as Exhibit 4(d) to the
     Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30,
     1995, is incorporated by reference.

4(g) Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of
     Participating Preferred Stock of H&R Block, Inc., filed as Exhibit 4(e) to
     the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April
     30, 1995, is incorporated by reference.

4(h) Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Delayed
     Convertible Preferred Stock of H&R Block, Inc., filed as Exhibit 4(f) to
     the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April
     30, 1995, is incorporated by reference.

5    Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered
     and the consent of such counsel.

23   The consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Certified Public Accountants (the
     consent of counsel is contained in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).

Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

     (1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file, during any
period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement to include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

     (2) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (3) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to remove from
registration by means of post-effective amendment any of the securities being
registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
8

     (4) If the registrant is a foreign private issuer, to file a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include any financial
statements required by 3-19 of Regulation S-X at the start of any delayed
offering or throughout a continuous offering.

     (5) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (6) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
9

                                   SIGNATURES

     The Registrant.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kansas City, and the State of
Missouri, on this  29th  day of July, 1996.

                                                H&R BLOCK, INC.
                                ----------------------------------------------

                                By/s/ Frank L. Salizzoni
                                ----------------------------------------------
                                  Frank L. Salizzoni, President
                                  and Chief Executive Officer

                      ----------------------------------

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Henry W. Bloch and Frank L. Salizzoni, or either
one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as they might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

                      ----------------------------------
10

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signature                          Title                           Date
     ---------                          -----                           ----

/s/ Frank L. Salizzoni          President, Chief                        7/29/96
- ----------------------          Executive  Officer and Director         -------
Frank L. Salizzoni              (principal executive officer)
                       
                                        
                                         

/s/ G. Kenneth Baum             Director                                7/30/96
- -------------------                                                     -------
G. Kenneth Baum

- ------------------              Director                                
Henry W. Bloch                                                          -------

/s/ Robert E. Davis             Director                                7/30/96 
- -------------------                                                     -------
Robert E. Davis

/s/ Donna R. Ecton              Director                                7/31/96
- ------------------                                                      -------
Donna R. Ecton

/s/ Henry F. Frigon             Director                                7/31/96
- -------------------                                                     -------
Henry F. Frigon

/s/ Roger W. Hale               Director                                7/30/96
- -----------------                                                       -------
Roger W. Hale

/s/ Marvin L. Rich              Director                                7/30/96
- ------------------                                                      -------
Marvin L. Rich

- -----------------               Director                                
Morton I. Sosland                                                       -------
11

Signature                                Title                          Date
- ---------                                -----                          ----

/s/ George T. Robson            Senior Vice President,                  7/31/96
- --------------------            Chief Financial Officer                 -------
George T. Robson                and Treasurer (principal
                                financial officer)
        
     

/s/ Cheryl L. Givens            Assistant Vice                          8/2/96 
- --------------------            President and Corporate                 ------
    Cheryl L. Givens            Controller (principal 
                                accounting officer)