The recent opening of his tax service office has been a long time coming for Thomson native Timothy Heard.
Since graduating from Thomson High School in 1984, Heard has worked at Lowe’s, prepared taxes for H&R Block, done shift work at KaMin and sold real estate.
“I love doing taxes, and the harder they are the more I want them,” Heard said. “I’ve always been a numbers guy.”
His business, Heard Tax Service LLC, will give him the opportunity to come home to family, friends and the Thomson community, he said.
He and his wife, Gail, live in Evans with their two children.
“I’m in Greenbrier country, but I’m still a Bulldog at heart,” said Heard, who played tight end for the Bulldogs in high school.
The Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce celebrated the office’s opening with a Jan. 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The business is housed in Suite A of 104 East Hall St.
Thomson Mayor Kenneth Usry and chamber president Bonnie McCorkle offered words of welcome and encouragement before Heard sliced the ceremonial red ribbon with a pair of oversized scissors.
The business, open just in time for tax season, has an eight-person staff, including several tax professionals with more than 20 years of experience each, Heard said.
“He sees this business as a way to give back to the community,” Gail Heard said. “He has a passion for helping and educating people.”
Timothy Heard said this passion stems from his humble beginnings living in public housing and being raised, along with two brothers, by his mother, a single parent.
After working at the local Lowe’s for more than four years, he began working at the J.M. Huber Corp., now KaMin LLC. While there, Heard took a tax-preparation class at Augusta Technical College. He finished first in the class and was recruited by H&R Block’s Thomson office.
For many years, he worked two jobs, using his vacation time from KaMin to prepare taxes during H&R Block’s peak season.
When he was terminated from KaMin in 2009, his wife said it was a divine signal to pursue his passion for tax preparation.
“If you look at how he grew up, you can see why he hates to see people struggling financially,” she said.
Heard Tax Service is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The hours will be extended during the peak tax season from January to April and cut back slightly during the remainder of the year, Heard said.
To reach the tax service, call (706) 361-0150.
