- 35 - dependents, and the amount reasonably necessary for basic living expenses. Petitioner offered no evidence of her income, expenses, assets, or liabilities other than her own testimony and that of her spouse that they continued to live in the same house they built in 1978, drove used cars, and took inexpensive vacations. In the absence of corroborating evidence, we are not required to accept petitioner’s self-serving testimony. Tokarski v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 74, 77 (1986). Consequently, we conclude that petitioner has failed to carry her burden of proving that requiring her to pay the liabilities from which she seeks relief would result in economic hardship within the meaning of section 301.6343-1(b)(4), Proced. & Admin. Regs. Because petitioner has failed to establish that she will suffer an economic hardship, we conclude that this positive factor does not apply. c. Abuse by Nonrequesting Spouse Mr. Abelein never abused petitioner, and he did not persuade petitioner to invest in the Hoyt partnerships by threatening to abuse her. This positive factor does not apply. Ewing v. Commissioner, supra at 46; Washington v. Commissioner, 120 T.C. at 149. d. No Knowledge or Reason To Know The tax liabilities at issue in this case arose from deficiencies. Petitioner argues that she did not know or havePage: Previous 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 Next
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