Tax Day 2019, falling on April 15, marked the deadline for filing federal income tax returns for most U.S. taxpayers. To alleviate the stress associated with this annual obligation, numerous businesses across the country offered special promotions, discounts, and freebies. These offers ranged from complimentary food items to discounted services, available exclusively on or around the tax filing deadline. The following guide details the specific promotions identified in the available source material, focusing on restaurant deals and food-related discounts.
Restaurant and Food Service Promotions
A variety of national and regional restaurant chains offered specific deals on Tax Day. These promotions generally required specific actions to redeem, such as visiting a physical location, mentioning a code phrase, or presenting a coupon.
Burger and Sandwich Chains
Several burger and sandwich establishments provided discounted meals or complimentary add-ons on April 15, 2019.
- Hardee’s: Participating locations offered one free sausage biscuit on April 15 between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. To redeem this offer, customers were required to say the phrase "made from scratch" to the server.
- Applebee’s: The chain promoted its April drink special, the Strawberry Dollarita, available for $1 throughout the month. This drink included a Twizzler straw.
- BurgerFi: Customers could purchase a BurgerFi Cheeseburger for $4.15 on April 15. Redemption required downloading the BurgerFi app and signing up for free rewards. The order was placed at a favorite location, and the app was scanned at the register.
- Firehouse Subs: This offer provided a free medium sub sandwich with the purchase of a medium or large sub, chips, and a drink. The deal was valid through April 17.
- California Tortilla: On April 15, customers could receive free chips and queso with any purchase. To redeem, customers had to say "1040" when placing their order. This offer was valid in-store only and limited to one free small chips and queso per guest.
Pizza and Buffet Chains
Pizza chains and buffet-style restaurants also participated in Tax Day promotions, often utilizing coupon requirements or specific purchase minimums.
- Cici’s Pizza: Participating locations offered the adult buffet for $4.15 with the purchase of a large drink. A coupon was required to redeem this offer.
- Boston Market: From April 10 through April 15, Boston Market offered a $10.40 Tax Day special. This meal included a half-chicken, two sides, cornbread, and a regular fountain beverage drink, available while supplies lasted.
Bagel and Bakery Promotions
Breakfast and bakery chains offered value bundles and complimentary treats.
- Bruegger’s Bagels: From April 10 through April 15, customers could purchase the Big Bagel Bundle for $10.40. This bundle consisted of 13 New York–style bagels and two tubs of cream cheese.
- Great American Cookies: Customers could receive one free Original Chocolate Chip Cookie on April 15. No purchase was necessary to receive this freebie.
Food Delivery Services
For those wishing to avoid leaving their homes, food delivery platforms offered incentives for new users.
- Amazon Restaurants: New customers could receive $7 off their first order by using the code EAT7.
- DoorDash: The platform offered $20 off any order for new customers through April.
Non-Food and Service-Based Promotions
While the majority of the identified offers were food-related, some sources indicated that non-food businesses participated in Tax Day relief efforts.
- HydroMassage and Planet Fitness: These companies partnered for the 11th annual Free Massage During Tax Week. The promotion ran through April 20, offering free massages to both members and non-members at more than 1,700 Planet Fitness locations.
- Tax Preparation Services: Sources noted that H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt offered discounts on tax preparation services. Additionally, online services such as TurboTax and Tax Slayer had deals available for filing taxes electronically.
- Bavarian Bierhaus: Located at Opry Mills, this establishment offered a 15 percent discount on April 15 to guests who said the phrase "Prost! Taxes are done!"
Important Considerations for Consumers
When seeking to redeem Tax Day offers, consumers should keep several factors in mind based on the source data:
- Participation Variance: Many offers were valid only at participating locations. Consumers were advised to check with their local business to confirm participation before visiting.
- Redemption Requirements: Specific actions were often required to receive a discount or free item. These included mentioning specific phrases (e.g., "made from scratch," "1040"), downloading apps, signing up for rewards programs, or presenting coupons.
- Expiration Dates: While many deals were exclusive to April 15, some extended to surrounding dates. For example, Firehouse Subs and Boston Market had multi-day windows, while Applebee's Dollarita special was valid for the entire month of April.
- Limitations: Offers often came with restrictions, such as "one per customer" limits or "while supplies last" caveats.
Conclusion
Tax Day 2019 provided a variety of opportunities for consumers to access discounted meals and free items. The promotions highlighted in this guide reflect a trend among businesses to engage with consumers during a significant annual event. By understanding the specific redemption requirements and checking for local participation, consumers could effectively utilize these offers to reduce the stress of the tax filing deadline.