Which of the following does NOT need to be placed into an escrow account?

Withholding taxes do not need to be placed into an escrow account because they are not directly related to the transactional aspects between a buyer and seller in real estate. Instead, withholding taxes are assessments the government applies to ensure that income taxes are deducted and remitted at the time of payment. They are typically handled separately in the context of payroll or taxation, rather than through a real estate transaction.

In contrast, security deposits, short-term rental deposits, and earnest money are all funds that need to be held in escrow to secure the interests of the involved parties. Security deposits are usually held by landlords for rental properties, while earnest money signifies the buyer's serious intent to purchase a property and is held until the transaction is finalized. Short-term rental deposits serve a similar purpose for temporary rentals, indicating reservation and commitment. All these funds are directly related to the real estate transaction and are managed through escrow accounts to ensure proper handling according to legal and contractual obligations.