** taxes. since you are going to get the escrow founds after the first of the year, you will need to show them on next year tax return as 'income'. and good luck explaining to the IRS how-come you have such deposit without even working for the carrier for the tax year. you will need to show how they took it off of your settlements in prior years.
The money was income when it was deducted from settlements as the escrow built up, so it's the same as if you'd put it in the bank. It's just a different bank account.