Last year your client Barney Brown, worked part-time for Timely Tax Services. Barney was promised an hourly wage plus commission. He worked under this arrangement from early February until April 15th. His accrued pay amounted to $900 plus $120 commissions. When he went to collect his pay, however, he found only a vacant office with a sign on the door reading "Nothing is sure but death and taxes."

Can Barney take a bad debt deduction for the wages and commission he was unable to collect?