John T. Barrett, Jr. and Jane W. A. Barrett - Page 20

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               Petitioners’ brief makes the following statement about                 
          Drexel’s financial condition on December 31, 1989:  “Drexel’s               
          true financial condition as of December 31 was -- and still is --           
          anyone’s guess.”  However, worthlessness is determined on the               
          basis of objective standards, Dustin v. Commissioner, 53 T.C. at            
          501, and a guess as to the debtor’s financial condition does not            
          establish reasonable grounds for abandoning any hope that the               
          debt will be paid in the future.  See Estate of Mann v. United              
          States, 731 F.2d at 276.  Petitioners cannot satisfy their burden           
          of proof by simply showing that petitioner had a good faith                 
          subjective belief that the note was worthless.  Fox v.                      
          Commissioner, supra at 822.  We accordingly sustain respondent’s            
          determination for petitioners’ 1989 taxable year.9                          
               Petitioners alternatively argue that the note became                   
          worthless during 1990 and that they are therefore entitled to a             
          bad debt deduction pursuant to section 166 for that year.                   
          Petitioners argue that Drexel’s filing for protection pursuant to           
          chapter 11 on February 13, 1990, was the “single identifiable               
          event” upon which the determination of the worthlessness of the             
          note should be made.  Petitioners argue that the size of the                


          9                                                                           
               Respondent determined the 1989 deficiency in petitioners’              
          Federal income tax using a basis for the shares of $116,528,                
          which was also the amount claimed in petitioners’ initial amended           
          return for 1989.  Respondent, however, does not seek to modify              
          that determination to take account of the basis of $116,504 for             
          the shares as reflected in a later amendment to the return.                 




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