Official Rules

Castle Free Property Taxes Giveaway Official Rules

NOTICE REGARDING DISPUTE RESOLUTION: These Official Rules contain terms that govern how claims between you and Castle Pay, Inc. (“Castle” or “Sponsor”) relating to your participation in the Sweepstakes, will be resolved. For example, Section 11 includes an arbitration agreement and waiver of a class action that requires you to submit all claims to arbitration (instead of going to court before a judge and jury) and limits your ability to bring claims only in an individual capacity (and not as part of or on behalf of any a class action or purported collective or representative claim or proceeding).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

By entering these Sweepstakes, you accept and agree to these official rules (“Official Rules”) and the decisions of the Sponsor, which shall be final in all matters.

HOW TO ENTER: Beginning on March 17, 2024 at 9:00 am ET through June 10, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET (hereinafter “Sweepstakes Period”) log on to https://www.getcastle.com/free-taxes and follow the instructions to sign up for the Castle Free Property Taxes Giveaway (“Sweepstakes”). You must (1) fill in all required information and submit the Sweepstakes form, (2) schedule a time to attend a 15-minute consultation with the Castle team, and (3) attend the entire consultation. The online form must be submitted before 5:00 pm ET on June 10, 2024; however, you may attend your scheduled consultation all the way through 5:00 pm ET on June 16, 2024.
WAIVER OF CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT: Castle may, in their sole discretion, waive the requirement to attend a consultation in the event the Castle team determines that the services offered through Castle are not well suited for, or applicable to, you or your properties, or if you’ve already completed a consultation or are already a Castle customer. If Castle decides to waive the requirement, you will remain eligible for the Prize so long as you meet all other eligibility requirements. Castle will notify you of the waiver and cancel your scheduled consultation.

ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF ENTRY: On an Official Alternate Entry Form, available at https://www.getcastle.com/free-taxes/entry-form/pdf, print your name, email address, complete mailing address (no P.O. Boxes), contact phone number, date of birth, the property address of a Qualified Property (defined below) that you own and for which you’d like to enter into this Sweepstakes, and any additional information requested by the Official Alternate Entry Form. Mail to: 402 Union Street, Unit 441, Hudson NY 12534.
Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Entries must be received by June 10, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET, when the Sweepstakes ends. All entrants, regardless of method of entry, are limited to the applicable maximum entry limit as described below.

ENTRY LIMITS: There may be only one entry per person or household, and no person or household may enter for multiple properties. The property you indicate in your submission form is the property for which you are entering the Sweepstakes. In the event you submit two entries, your first submission, as determined by the time we receive the submission, will be the only one we consider. Use of any robotic, automatic, programmed, or similar entry method will void all entries and result in disqualification. You may not enter more times than indicated by using multiple email addresses, identities, or devices in an attempt to circumvent the rules.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible, you must be 21 years of age or older as of March 17, 2024 at 9:00 am ET, be a current resident of the state of New York, and be a titled owner of a “Qualified Property” as further described and defined below.
- Ownership Requirement: Eligibility is contingent upon the entrant holding the title to a residential property that is located within the State of New York, hereinafter referred to as a “Qualified Property.”
  1. Proof of Ownership: Eligibility requires that the entrant’s name appear on the most current public assessment records associated with the property tax map ID of the submitted property within the State of New York.
  2. Entity-Owned Properties: Entrants who own property through a legal entity, such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), must provide verifiable evidence of their ownership or membership in the LLC as recorded on the most current public assessment record. Acceptable evidence includes, but is not limited to, a current operating agreement or official LLC documentation listing the entrant as a member with a substantial ownership interest (at least 33%).
  3. Alternative Verification for Recent Transfers: In cases where the public assessment record does not reflect the current ownership due to recent property transfers, entrants may submit alternative documentation to establish ownership. This may include the recorded deed showing the entrant as the current owner.
  4. The ownership requirement must be satisfied throughout the entirety of the Sweepstakes Period.

DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED PROPERTY: A "Qualified Property" meets all the following criteria:
- 1. Location: The property must be situated within the geographical confines of the State of New York.
  2. Residential Use: The property must be used as your primary or secondary residence. The property must not be used for commercial, business, or any non-residential purposes at any point during the Sweepstakes Period. Properties designated or utilized for commercial purposes are categorically excluded from being recognized as a "Qualified Property."
  3. Primary Property Definition: For purposes of this Sweepstakes, a primary property is defined as the main residential dwelling where the entrant resides for the majority of the calendar year. It is the address used for legal and official purposes, such as voter registration, tax filing, and as listed on the entrant’s driver's license. The primary property must be the entrant’s principal place of residence, indicating that the entrant spends the majority of their time at this location.
  4. Secondary Property Definition: A secondary property refers to any residential dwelling owned by the entrant that is not their primary residence. This includes vacation homes, weekend homes, or any other residential property where the entrant resides for part of the year, but does not spend the majority of their time. Secondary properties are not used for commercial purposes and are not the entrant’s main place of residence.
  5. Verification using personal and public records: Eligibility of the property as a "Qualified Property" will be determined based on its tax map identification number or parcel identification number. The Sponsor reserves the right to request records, documentation or other proof of residency status to validate the entrant’s claim. Sponsor has full and final discretion on the method of verification.

DETERMINATION OF OWNERSHIP STATUS AND “QUALIFIED PROPERTY” STATUS CLAUSE: Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Sponsor reserves the exclusive and final authority to determine the eligibility, including a determination as to the entrant’s ownership status and the property in question’s status as a "Qualified Property" for participation in the Sweepstakes. This determination shall be made in accordance with the eligibility criteria set forth herein, any applicable laws and regulations, and the Sponsor's reasonable discretion. The Sponsor's evaluation will consider, among other factors, the property's use, location, and compliance with the designated criteria for primary or secondary residential purposes as outlined in the Official Rules.
The Sponsor may require entrants to provide documentation, evidence, or other substantiation to demonstrate that their property meets the eligibility criteria as a "Qualified Property." Failure to provide such information, or provision of incomplete, inaccurate, or misleading information, may result in disqualification from the Sweepstakes.
The determination of a property's status as a "Qualified Property" by the Sponsor is final and binding. No correspondence or appeal regarding the Sponsor's decision will be entertained, except at the Sponsor's sole discretion. Entrants agree to abide by the Sponsor's decisions and acknowledge that these decisions are made in the best interest of maintaining fairness and integrity in the Sweepstakes.
By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants expressly acknowledge and agree that the Sponsor's determination regarding the eligibility of a property as a "Qualified Property" is conclusive and may not be challenged on any grounds, including but not limited to, the criteria for classification as a primary or secondary residence, the use of the property, or ownership structure.

ELIGIBILITY EXCLUSIONS: Employees of Sponsor, its subsidiaries, their directors and volunteers, and members of their respective immediate families (spouses, parents, children and siblings), regardless of where they reside, and household members of such employees are not eligible to enter.
DRAWING: A random drawing will be conducted on or about June 19, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET by the Sponsor to select the potential winner from among all eligible entries received. Only one winner will receive a Prize. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Sponsor will attempt to notify potential winner by email and, if possible, by phone. Potential winner must sign and return any required forms and documentation including an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release, the Castle Sweepstakes Claim Form, and any requested tax documentation within 3 calendar days of the date notice is sent or such other date set by Sponsor in the notification sent by Sponsor. Failure to respond within the applicable time period may result in forfeiture of Prize and Sponsor shall have the option to award the Prize to an alternate potential winner. If a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the Prize to an alternate potential winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Only three alternate drawings will be held, after which the Prize will remain un-awarded.
PUBLICITY: By accepting the Prize, the potential winner grants permission for Sponsor and/or its designees to use his/her name, photographs, voice and/or other likeness and Prize information for publicity and promotional purposes without further compensation, notice, review, or consent, in any and all forms of media, unless prohibited by law, worldwide in perpetuity.
ARBITRATION & CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited by law, as a condition of participating in this Sweepstakes, you agree that (1) any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes, or any Prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action lawsuit, and exclusively by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association and held at the AAA regional office nearest to your, the contestant’s, New York residence; (2) the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all proceedings at such arbitration; and (3) judgment upon such arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Under no circumstances will you be permitted to obtain awards for, and you hereby waive all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than your actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes), and you further waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of contestants and Sponsor in connection with this Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of New York, USA without regard to New York choice of law rules.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By entering this Sweepstakes, entrants waive all right to, and hold the Sponsor harmless from, any claim, liability, loss, damage (including punitive, incidental, and consequential damages), or expense (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection with participation in this Sweepstakes or the acceptance, use, or misuse of Prize. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. Sponsor will not be responsible for: late, incomplete, or incorrect entries; an entrant's failure to receive Prize notices due to entrant's spam, junk e-mail, or other security settings or for entrant’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information; technical, hardware, or software malfunctions, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled, or delayed electronic communications whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in this Sweepstakes; by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in this Sweepstakes; or any typographical, technological, or other error in the publishing of the offer, administration of the Sweepstakes, or announcement of the Prize. If, in the Sponsor’s opinion, there is such an error, or there is any suspected evidence of tampering with any portion of the Sweepstakes, or if technical difficulties (including viruses and bugs) compromise the integrity of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right to request that the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, cancel or modify this Sweepstakes in a manner deemed appropriate by the Sponsor. In the event of termination, potential winners will be selected from among all eligible entries received as of date of termination. In the event a dispute arises as to the identity of a potentially winning entrant, entries will be declared by the name on the online entry form.
INDEMNIFICATION: As a condition of entry, you agree to defend, indemnify, release and hold harmless Sponsor and their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies, and any other person or organization responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Sweepstakes and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability arising out of or relating to your entry, creation of an entry or submission of an entry, acceptance, possession, attendance at, defect in, delivery of, inability to use, use or misuse of Prize and/or exploitation or use of Prize or entry.

PRIZE: The prize for this Sweepstakes, hereafter referred to as the "Prize," consists of the Sponsor paying one winner’s property taxes for one property for the calendar year of 2024, up to the maximum value of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) as further stipulated below. Only one winner will receive a Prize. The Prize will be executed as a direct payment from the Sponsor to the winning homeowner's local tax authority covering the total amount of the property taxes due for 2024 for the winner’s Qualified Property, under the conditions and limitations outlined below:
- Property Taxes Defined: For the purposes of this Sweepstakes, "property taxes" are defined as the combined total of county, town, village, and any other local government tax installments levied on the winner’s Qualified Property, excluding school taxes.
- Maximum Value: The Prize's maximum value is capped at fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00). Should the property taxes of the winner’s Qualified Property surpass this limit, the winner and any other homeowners of the Qualified Property will be responsible for the payment of the excess amount. If the property taxes are less than this stipulated maximum value, the Prize will be adjusted to match the exact amount of taxes due, with no additional compensation provided for the remainder.
- The Prize consists of only those items specifically described as the Prize herein. No substitution or transfer of Prize permitted by winner. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute Prize with a Prize of equal or greater value. If a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the Prize to an alternate potential winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Only three alternate drawings will be held, after which the Prize will remain un-awarded.
- Winner will be solely responsible for all taxes, costs, and fees associated with Prize receipt, ownership, and/or use. The potential winner may be required to complete and return an IRS W-9 form, W8-BEN, or other applicable forms (i.e., Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification). The potential winner is entitled to refuse to accept any Prize that they are eligible to receive and, in such instances, will be deemed to have forfeited the Prize. If a potential winner or winner is deemed to have forfeited a Prize, in whole or in part, they will not be entitled to any alternate Prize or other compensation of any kind.
HOW THE PRIZE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED: The Sponsor will make these payments directly to the relevant taxing authority on behalf of the winner, under the following conditions:
- Quarterly Installments: If the winner’s property taxes are billed on a quarterly basis, the Sponsor will directly pay the next four consecutive tax installments due following the award of the Prize, ensuring the total payment does not exceed the maximum limit of $15,000 for the year 2024.
- Annual Payment: If the winner's property taxes are billed on an annual basis and the taxes for the year 2024 have not yet been paid, the Sponsor will pay the full annual tax amount directly to the taxing authority on the next due date, provided the total does not surpass the $15,000 maximum limit.
- Direct Payment to Taxing Authority: Payment of the property tax Prize will be executed directly to the taxing authority responsible for the winner's property tax collection. No Prize payments will be made directly to the winner or any intermediaries.
- Verification and Coordination: Potential winner must supply the Sponsor with the necessary tax billing information, including contact details for the taxing authority and the property tax account or parcel number. This enables the Sponsor to arrange the direct payment of property taxes.

PRIVACY: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on https://www.getcastle.com/free-taxes. To read the Privacy Policy, please go to https://www.getcastle.com/privacy-policy.
WINNERS LIST: For a winners list, available after the announcement, email hello@getcastle.com with the subject line “Winners List Request.” The winners list will only be available for 90 days. The winner will also be published on Sponsor’s social media account and online at https://www.getcastle.com/free-taxes on or shortly after the winner is chosen.
SPONSOR: Castle Pay, Inc., 402 Union Street, Unit 441, Hudson NY 12534