Jim Wiseman

Wiseman organized free tax help for victims
Brentwood Home Page news reports
Local CPA Jim Wiseman of Brentwood has been awarded the “Pro Bono Award” from the Tax Executives Institute. The TEI is an international association of business executives responsible for the tax affairs of their employers.  The “Pro Bono Award” is designed to recognize a member whose community service work has made an extraordinary difference in the lives of others, according to Tim McCormally, TEI’s executive director, who presented Wiseman with the award Nov. 17.

The award recognizes Wiseman’s innovative idea and work in recruiting CPA firms throughout Middle Tennessee to do free tax returns to help flood victims maximize their disaster deductions.   Over a two-day period in early May 2010, parts of Nashville had up to 20 inches of rain, which caused tremendous flooding in the area.  As a result, thousands of residents endured significant property damage, and Nashville was declared a federal disaster area.  While Wiseman helped one of his coworkers pull insulation out of her flood-damaged basement, it occurred to him that he had specialized knowledge that could give people access to thousands of dollars that would help cover the costs of rehabilitating their damaged homes. 

“The federal tax code allows taxpayers to file amended returns going back five years giving people the ability to claim casualty losses and carry them back for an immediate refund.  The forms and related paperwork for claiming these losses, however, are daunting and complicated,” McCormally stated. “To make sure residents affected by the floods received their refunds, Mr. Wiseman spearheaded an effort in conjunction with the Nashville Mayor’s Office, the United Way, H&R Block, and the local legal aid society to provide eight free community education seminars. 

“These seminars provided the affected individuals with information and assistance in understanding how to file casualty loss tax refund claims in a federally declared disaster area.  Mr. Wiseman participated with other instructors walking attendees through the forms and associated documentation requirements.  Some of these seminars drew over 100 people.  Mr. Wiseman predicted the refunds due to approximately 12,000 impacted families would not just have a significant personal impact but would create an economic benefit to the community as a whole.”

Wiseman is Vice-President–Tax at Capella Healthcare and a Leadership Brentwood graduate.  He was also recognized with a “Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition” from Congressman Jim Cooper for his work.