Sheldon R. and Phyllis Milenbach, et al. - Page 33

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               Petitioners bear the burden of proving that the Speck debt             
          became worthless within the 1986 taxable year.  Rule 142(a);                
          Rockwell v. Commissioner, 512 F.2d 882 (9th Cir. 1975), affg.               
          T.C. Memo. 1972-133; Crown v. Commissioner, 77 T.C. 582, 598                
          (1981).  Specifically, petitioners must prove that the debt had             
          value at the beginning of the taxable year and that it became               
          worthless during that year.  Estate of Mann v. United States, 731           
          F.2d 267, 275 (5th Cir. 1984); American Offshore, Inc. v.                   
          Commissioner, 97 T.C. 579, 593 (1991).                                      
               There is no standard test or formula for determining                   
          worthlessness within a given taxable year.  Crown v.                        
          Commissioner, supra at 598.  The determination depends upon the             
          particular facts and circumstances of the case.  Generally,                 
          however, the year of the worthlessness is fixed by identifiable             
          events that form the basis of reasonable grounds for abandoning             
          any hope of recovery.  United States v. S. S. White Dental                  
          Manufacturing Co., 274 U.S. 398 (1927); American Offshore, Inc.             
          v. Commissioner, supra at 593; Crown v. Commissioner, supra at              
          598; Dallmeyer v. Commissioner, 14 T.C. 1282, 1292 (1950).                  
          Worthlessness is determined primarily by objective standards.               
          American Offshore, Inc. v. Commissioner, supra at 594; Perry v.             
          Commissioner, 22 T.C. 968, 973 (1954).                                      
               The amounts due from Speck under the 1985 agreement were               
          overdue, but the fact that accounts are overdue, standing alone,            
          does not warrant deducting them as worthless.  See Shippen v.               




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