Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Net revenue:
Total net revenue	$ 754	$ 2,304	$ 923	$ 713	$ 696	$ 2,135	$ 749	$ 612	$ 4,694	$ 4,192	$ 4,243
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations	$ (56)	$ 1,285	$ 42	$ (29)	$ (130)	$ 1,066	$ (89)	$ (109)	1,242	738	1,300
Unallocated corporate items:
Amortization of acquired technology									(22)	(30)	(18)
Amortization of other acquired intangible assets									(12)	(12)	(7)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges									$ 0	(148)	0
Segment Information (Textuals)
Number of Reportable Segments | segment									3
Small Business
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									$ 2,293	2,108	2,158
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									874	696	852
Consumer Tax
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									1,973	1,800	1,663
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									1,287	1,131	1,075
ProConnect
Net revenue:
Total net revenue									428	284	422
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									268	108	268
Operating Segments
Operating income from continuing operations:
Total operating income from continuing operations									2,429	1,935	2,195
Segment Reconciling Items
Unallocated corporate items:
Share-based compensation expense									(278)	(242)	(186)
Other common expenses									(875)	(765)	(684)
Amortization of acquired technology									(22)	(30)	(18)
Amortization of other acquired intangible assets									(12)	(12)	(7)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges									0	(148)	0
Total unallocated corporate items									$ (1,187)	$ (1,197)	$ (895)
International | Maximum
Segment Information (Textuals)
International Total Net Revenue As A Percentage Of Total									5.00%	5.00%	5.00%