The period surrounding Tax Day in April 2018 featured a wide variety of promotional offers and freebies distributed by restaurants, travel companies, and service providers. These promotions were designed to provide consumers with complimentary food, discounted services, and travel incentives as a respite from the annual tax filing process. Based on verified reports from April 2018, the following overview details specific free food items, restaurant deals, travel packages, and home service discounts that were available to U.S. consumers.
Free Food and Restaurant Promotions
Numerous fast-food chains and casual dining establishments offered free food items on and around Tax Day 2018. These offers ranged from complete meals to snacks and desserts, often requiring specific actions such as stating a keyword or presenting a coupon.
Tax Day Specific Freebies On April 17, 2018, several brands provided free food without requiring a purchase: * California Tortilla: Customers received free chips and queso. * Great American Cookies: A free cookie was available to customers. * Schlotzsky’s: The chain offered a free sandwich. * Hardee’s: As part of the "Tastes Like America" campaign, the chain gave away free sausage biscuits from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. To redeem this offer, customers were required to say the phrase "Made from scratch." * Hot Dog on a Stick: Participating locations provided one free Original Turkey or Veggie Dog. This offer did not require a purchase or proof of completed taxes. * Kona Ice: The company observed Tax Day as its National "Chill Out" Day. Customers could visit Kona Ice trucks during select hours to receive a free cup of tropical shaved ice. Participating hours and locations were available on the company's website. * Piada Italian Street Food: All locations offered a free giant blackberry lemonade. * Taco John’s: This chain provided a free beef taco on the Monday prior to Tax Day. Redemption required a coupon available on the Taco John’s website, rewards app, social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), or via email and text subscriber lists.
Deals Requiring Purchase Other promotions on Tax Day offered discounted food items or free appetizers with a purchase: * Outback Steakhouse: Customers could get a free Bloomin’ Onion with any purchase by saying "Bloomin’ Tuesday" to the server. This offer was tied to a celebration of Kevin Harvick’s performance in a NASCAR race. * Babbo Italian Eatery: With the purchase of a drink, customers could get an eight-inch cheese pizza for $4.17.
Seasonal and Holiday Freebies Beyond Tax Day, the source data indicates that restaurants often provide freebies on other holidays throughout the year: * Mother's Day: Restaurants such as McCormick & Schmick's, Fogo de Chao, and Shoney's offered treats for mothers in May. * National Donut Day: In June, chains like Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, LaMar's, and Tim Hortons Cafe and Bake Shop provided free doughnuts. * 7/11: The convenience store chain offered free Slurpees on July 11. * Veterans Day: In November, restaurants including Applebee's, Chili's, Golden Corral, and Lone Star Steakhouse provided free meals for veterans.
Travel and Hospitality Offers
Travel companies and hotels utilized the Tax Day period to offer incentives for consumers to book getaways, often framing the offers as a way to utilize tax refunds or escape the stress of filing.
Hotel and Resort Packages * The Omni Homestead Resort: Located in Hot Springs, Virginia, this resort offered a special where booking one night resulted in the second night costing just $25. The booking deadline was April 20, 2018, and the offer was valid for stays between April 17 and December 22, 2018. * Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills: This property offered a "Taxation Staycation Package." The package included tax-free suite accommodations, a luxury private poolside cabana with a bottle of champagne, complimentary valet parking, and complimentary high-speed WiFi. * Waldorf Astoria Chicago: Using the promo code TAXDAY, guests could book a $1,040 deal for a night in the Gold Coast Corner Suite, an in-room massage (valued at $250), and a bottle of sparkling wine. This booking was available on April 17, 2018, only, for stays between April 17 and May 30, 2018. * Arlo Hotels: Arlo Hotels offered the "Relax Post-Tax" offer from April 15-20. The deal provided a 14.75% discount on best available rates (equivalent to the New York City tax) and an additional $3.50 off for the occupancy tax. The rate applied to stays through Labor Day at Arlo SoHo and Arlo NoMad. * Caldwell Bed and Breakfast: This B&B in the Hudson Valley offered to cover all lodging taxes for guests staying between April 16-19, 2018. Reservations had to be made at least 48 hours in advance, and guests could schedule a massage at the inn’s spa room. * Conrad Chicago: The hotel offered a specific promotion for Tax Day week, though the details of the package were cut off in the source data.
Hotel Bars and Lounges * The Wayfarer: This establishment offered a Tax Day deal from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. * W New York Downtown: During the week of April 16-21, the hotel offered a limited-time cocktail menu. Specific drinks included "Uncle Sam Took All My $$" ($7 beers), "Wait, It's Tax Day - I Need an Extension" ($10 cocktails), and "Uncle Sam Owes Me - Let it Rain" (discounted bottle service).
Home, Office, and Personal Services
Service providers offered practical freebies and discounts to assist consumers with home and office management during the tax season.
Document Shredding Services * Office Depot and OfficeMax: These retailers offered free shredding services at all locations from March 18 to April 28, 2018. Customers could bring in up to five pounds of documents to be shredded free of charge. To redeem the offer, customers had to print a coupon available online or show the coupon to a store associate via a mobile device.
Personal Care Services * Zeel: Zeel, a massage delivery app, offered customers $20 off a first in-home massage using the promo code TAXDAY2018.
Financial and Educational Resources
While the primary focus of the 2018 freebies was consumables and services, the source data also highlights general free resources available to consumers interested in financial management and education.
- Budgeting Tools: A financial planning resource offered free budgeting tracking sheets and quarterly newsletters via email request.
- Educational Worksheets: A worksheet titled "Re-Solutions" was available to help individuals with financial New Year's Resolutions.
- Music and Podcasts: The data suggests that consumers could access free music lessons through websites like Hoffman Academy and Drum Ambition, and listen to podcasts for free via apps such as TuneIn Radio, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.
Important Considerations for Consumers
When seeking and redeeming freebies and promotional offers, consumers should be aware of several factors: * Location Variations: Many restaurant and retail offers are provided by franchisees, meaning participation and specific terms may vary by location. Calling ahead is recommended. * Coupon Requirements: Some offers require a physical or digital coupon, while others may require signing up for a newsletter or "liking" a social media page. * Expiration Dates: Promotional offers often have strict expiration dates and valid usage periods. For example, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago offer was bookable only on April 17, 2018, and valid for specific travel dates. * Source Verification: The information regarding these offers was compiled from company representatives and social media. Consumers are advised to verify details directly with the company or official websites before visiting.
Conclusion
The Tax Day period of April 2018 served as a significant promotional event for brands across the food, travel, and service industries. Companies offered a mix of no-cost food items, significant travel discounts, and practical home services to engage consumers. The variety of offers—from free tacos and shaved ice to tax-free hotel stays and complimentary document shredding—demonstrated a broad strategy to provide value and relief during a time of financial obligation. Consumers who monitored official brand channels and coupon sites were able to access these time-sensitive opportunities.