Deposit in Error

My question involves a banking matter in the State of: Nebraska
Ok this may not be the correct forum section but: (apologize if long) During the last tax season we used a 3rd party tax software to do our taxes. My brother did not have a bank account so i let him use mine to deposit the Refund Atticipation Loan to. Apparently due to an issue with a previous employer in his past not paying taxes correctly he had to deal with the IRS directly to get his tax refund. Well he did and he recieved his check from the IRS directly in the mail along with his Stimulus check. Fast Forward like 5-6 months later. I notice a "Tax Refund per RALDEPT" in the amount of $3000 plus in my bank account. I dont know what company we used for his refund at first and the bank cant tell me either. IRS sent him his check already. IM thinking its a company computer error cause as I understand it those types of Transactions sets up a temp. account for you. Any idea how long I can hold out from spending this money? and what can happen?

thanks.

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Any idea how long I can hold out from spending this money?

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It's not yours, so you need to "hold out from spending it" FOREVER. Elsewise, you can be sued for the full amount and charged with theft.

Speak with your bank's manager. All Direct Deposit transactions are traceable through the Federal ACH.

This isn't monopoly, the bank error in your favor is only tempory.

My only thing is that its not really a bank error more of the 3rd party company error, but i guess it can be used as same argument. One time sears gave me an extra computer i guess ill wait to see if this company notices.

From an ethical standpoint, I wouldn't wait. I would contact them, and remove the temptation.

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Quoting bboyjsys

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My only thing is that its not really a bank error more of the 3rd party company error, but i guess it can be used as same argument. One time sears gave me an extra computer i guess ill wait to see if this company notices.

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That's really poor decision making on your part.

When the bank opens, go in and talk to the manager to get this resolved. You're well aware that the money isn't yours, and no amount of rationalization on your part is going to give you an out to keep the money.

As you said, your brother got a "refund anticipation loan" that he forwarded to your bank. RALDept = Refund Anticipation Loan Department.

Your brother may have finagled something to get his refund directly from the IRS despite having already borrowed the money from his tax service, in which case (despite your having pocketed his loan proceeds) he still owes the money. If the money was credited to your account by error, you obviously knew both why it was deposited and that it was not yours, so you owe it back.

funny thing is I called the bank again today and same answer. We are not sure what company it came from sir. YOu have the same info we do. Good thing i found out later that one of my friends works for the same bank.