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                                                        EXHIBIT 99.1 TO FORM 8-K
[H&R BLOCK LOGO]
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NEWS RELEASE
For further information

MEDIA RELATIONS:     Linda McDougall, 816-932-7542
INVESTOR RELATIONS:  Brian Schell, 816-932-7561


   H&R BLOCK COMPLETES MCGLADREY & PULLEN ACQUISITION

FOR RELEASE MONDAY, AUG. 2, 1999

                     KANSAS CITY, Mo. - H&R Block Inc. (NYSE:HRB) today
   announced it has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the
   non-attest assets of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, the nation's seventh largest
   accounting and consulting firm. The transaction, announced June 29, is the
   largest accounting firm acquisition to date by a public company.

                  Founded in 1955, H&R Block is a diversified company providing
   a wide range of financial products and services through its subsidiaries. H&R
   Block Tax Services Inc. served 18.9 million taxpayers in more than 10,000
   offices located primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia and the
   United Kingdom in 1999. Assurance Mortgage Corporation of America and H&R
   Block Mortgage Company offer a full range of home mortgage products. Through
   HRB Business Services, the company began building a national accounting, tax
   and consulting firm with its first acquisition in May 1998. Block Financial
   Corporation develops and publishes consumer financial and personal
   productivity software, such as Kiplinger TaxCut(R). Quarterly results and
   other information regarding H&R Block are available on the company's web site
   at www.hrblock.com.





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