Sally and Ed each own property with a fair market value less than the amount of the outstanding mortgage on the property and also less than the original cost basis. They each were able to convince the mortgage holder to reduce the principal amount on the mortgage. Sally's mortgage is on her personal residence and Ed's mortgage is on rental property he owns.

Assume that under the current system of measuring income, each of these taxpayers realized income from the reductions in the mortgages. Should either of these taxpayers be permitted to exclude any of the debt reduction income?