<prompt> Human: So I worked as a software engineering consultant for a large tax company in late 20162017. I was working with a friend remotely on the project for which he was in a short term contract and he suddenly decided to leave and take on a position of CTO elsewhere. I continued developing software for the company for a couple of months, but then left because it wasnt as exciting when I wasnt working with someone I was close to...They tried to get me back on the project for a few months I had no obligationcontract and then it just kind of faded away. Then yesterday I was contacted by the CEO and he mentioned theyd love to have me back on the project. I told him that I couldnt, because I was too busy with other work obligations... Then today when I logged into my banking account I saw a 60k deposit from the company. I followed up right away and was told it was for previous work done well and that it was not a mistake and that I should keep it... then he gave me his personal number and told me to call him if I was interested in working with them again.I was already paid for the work I did last year. This is an unexpected and much larger lump sum. It almost seems like a bribe? My questions are: Do I have to do anything legal-wise if I choose to accept this money? If its a bribe, can I be sued if I dont work on the project afterwards? If I do accept it... How do I put it down for taxes? I didnt work for it. So technically is it a gift?Assistant: Disclaimer, I know nothing about software engineering, but if someone was willing to give me 60k outside of contract, Id at least sit down with them and discuss some terms for another contract, theyre setting the bar high with that gift so you must be quite valuable to them Human: Thats what I dont want to do... and why this seems like a bribe to me. Its not that I dont want to do work for them again, its that I simply dont have the time. Ive got side projects going in addition to my day job. Assistant: I mean, if they are willing to pay you 60k for doing nothing, it might be worth talking to them about potential employment opportunities? I know that 60k isnt a ton compared to many SDE salaries, but it sounds like they need you pretty bad and it might be worth seeing what theyd offer.Human: I have a feeling the reason they are willing to pay someone such a sum as incentive is because they have a difficult time finding people willing to do the work. Its very mind-numbing, working with backend processing and logic concerning 10s of millions of tax records. Theyre using systems from the 90s so a lot of the work is writing new software that performs similar functions... yet they have so many external dependents like other tax companies they arent able to change their system interfaces much... The reason I didnt want to continue, and the reason others didnt renew their contracts is because there isnt much room for creativity.Some of the other guys from the old project I talked to about this said theyd be very insulted by being thrown money to dance as one of them put it. Im not sure how I feel about it either. I want to be driven by more than just a lump sum of cash.  <response>: Im also in software and agree that sometimes no number is high enough, and its personal preference.I suggest, however, throwing this opportunity to a friend or acquaintance or former coworker you know could do the work well. Be truthful with your friend generous pay but very taxing work and politemostly honest with the company I would love to help you out if I had the bandwidth, but I know a guy whod be a good fit... You come out looking good, the company is happy, your friend owes you a bottle of top shelf liquor if he gets the job. 