Expert: Ed McFarland - 2/4/2007

Question
I quit my job in October, but was still paid through direct deposit until the end of January.  Do I have to pay it back?  If so, how long do i have to pay it back?

Answer
You could be liable to pay back any unearned income. You don't have a legal obligation to tell them, moral and ethical is another story.

You can sit there and act like it was severance or vacation time owed and then reach a settlement.

I would expect that that some time over the next year it will be discovered, if at all. Take the money and put it into a CD, short term, for about 15 months. Then you could take your chances that it has gotten lost.

The employer would have to amend your W2.

Good luck