[jrochkind1]

Because if it was legally income, it is a crime not to report it. If the IRS discovers it later, they can charge you the taxes, plus interest, plus penalties, and in some cases prosecute you criminally (see Al Capone). Whether it needs to be legally reported as income or not is not determined by whether someone else already filed paperwork for it or not. I don't know if this would need to be reported as income or not, under what circumstances; I'd talk to a lawyer or CPA. whether someone filed a 1099 or not is not determinative.

[jtbayly]

But it can’t be income if he has to give it back, which is the starting assumption here.

[jrochkind1]

I'd talk to a lawyer or accountant when dealing with a mystery $250K instead of making "starting assumptions". It's certainly not determined by whether a 1099 was filed.

[jtbayly]

Lol. I’d start with the very safe assumption that I’m not going to be able to keep $250k that was clearly given to me by mistake.

[djitz]

I absolutely love that (see Al Capone) is the example used while discussing some dude who was accidentally sent money by google.

[jrochkind1]

Hey, he was prosecuted for not reporting income that definitely nobody filed a 1099 for. :)