Susan L. Abelein - Page 35

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          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 have              






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