Cobb came out of retirement in 2010 to join the Block board of directors and became CEO the next year after do-it-your self preparation by those using tax software from companies such as Intuit severly hurt tax stores.

Board chairman Robert A. Gerard attributed a broad improvement in the company's operations to Cobb's leadership. "Bill led the transformation of H&R Block into a well-run company focused on our state-of-the-art tax preparation business, with a strong and committed management team, financial stability and an exciting future," Gerard said in a prepared statement.

The company said it gained market share during the season, although its total number of returns prepared during the last season were off .8 percent over 2016 figures.

However, that reflected a 13.4-percent drop in returns prepared through the Free File Alliance. Block's combined total for both assisted and do-it-your returns prepared by those utilizing its software rose by 3.5 percent on the strength of a 6.8-percent increase in returns prepared through its online system. Assisted returns dropped by 2.5 percent.