- 18 - only 48 months of future income should be considered. Petitioners made a cash offer, but Ms. Cochran used 81 months of future income. At trial, Ms. Cochran acknowledged that she should have used only 48 months of future income. Ms. Cochran recomputed petitioners’ reasonable collection potential using 48 months and determined that it was $351,531, instead of $380,076, as reflected in the notice of determination. Ms. Cochran testified that the change would not have had an effect on her final determination because, using either calculation, petitioners’ reasonable collection potential was greater than their offer amount ($25,000). We find that Ms. Cochran’s error did not amount to an abuse of discretion because, even when the error is corrected, petitioners’ reasonable collection potential of $351,531 far exceeds their offer amount of $25,000. With regard to age, health, and retirement status, petitioners’ argument is not supported by the record. In their letter describing their offer amount, petitioners represented that Mrs. Andrews was retired and Mr. Andrews would retire when he reached 65 years old. Petitioners also indicated that they suffered from various medical conditions and that Mrs. Andrews was taking several medications. On their Form 433-A, petitioners reported monthly medical expenses of $533. Ms. Cochran accepted petitioners’ monthly medical expenses without change. Ms. Cochran also accepted petitioners’Page: Previous 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011