Tax Day 2017 offered Ohio residents a variety of freebies and discounted deals from national and local brands. On April 18, 2017, businesses across the state provided incentives ranging from free food to discounted services, allowing consumers to celebrate the conclusion of tax season or stretch their refunds further. These offers were typically available at participating locations and often required specific actions, such as presenting a coupon or making a purchase. The following guide details the specific freebies and deals available to Ohio consumers during the 2017 Tax Day period.
Food and Beverage Offers
Several restaurant chains offered significant discounts and free items on Tax Day 2017. These deals ranged from bagel bundles to free cookies and discounted meals.
Bagels and Breakfast
Bruegger’s Bagels offered a popular Tax Day promotion, providing a Big Bagel Bundle for $10.40. This bundle included 13 bagels and two tubs of cream cheese. The deal was valid from April 14 through April 19, 2017. Source [1] noted that this offer represented a discount of $3.50. Another source [5] confirmed the deal ran through April 19.
Great American Cookies provided a free Regular Birthday Cake Cookie on Tuesday, April 18, 2017. According to Source [1], no purchase or coupon was necessary to receive the free cookie. Source [5] reiterated that no proof of completed taxes was required for this offer.
Pizza and Casual Dining
Hungry Howie’s offered a medium one-topping pizza for just 15 cents on April 17-19, 2017. This promotion was designed to help consumers stretch their refunds. For online orders, Source [1] indicated that the promo code "TAXTIME" was required.
McDonald’s locations in Columbus and Central Ohio offered a Buy One, Get One (BOGO) deal on Big Mac or Quarter Pounder sandwiches for 18 cents on April 18, 2017. Source [1] specified that this deal was valid only on April 18 and suggested that other locations across the country might have similar deals.
Schlotsky’s provided a free small Original Sandwich with the purchase of a 32oz Fountain Drink and chips on April 18, 2017. Source [1] stated that no coupon was needed for this all-day offer.
Noodles and Company offered $4 off any $10 purchase for customers who filed their taxes digitally. This promotion was valid from April 12 through April 18, 2017, and required placing an order through order.noodles.com using the code "TAXDAY17" at checkout [1].
Bob Evans offered 30 percent off orders on Tax Day with a coupon. Source [5] noted that this discount applied to almost all orders. Hooters offered free kids' meals with the purchase of an adult entree at participating locations. Source [5] specified that this deal was dine-in only.
Hot Dog on a Stick offered a free Original Turkey Dog on Tax Day. Source [5] reported that no purchase was necessary and there was a limit of one free dog per customer. Firehouse Subs offered a free medium sub with the purchase of a medium or large sub, chips, and drink. Source [5] indicated that this deal ran from Tuesday through Thursday.
Desserts and Beverages
Kona Ice trucks were parked at post offices, tax preparation centers, and businesses nationwide to hand out free cups of tropical shaved ice and complimentary Hawaiian leis. Source [1] provided instructions for finding the truck: consumers could tweet their zip code to @KonaIce. Source [5] confirmed that Kona Ice trucks would be at various post offices and shopping centers across America on Tuesday.
Chili’s offered a $6 Watermelon Wave Margarita in April. Source [2] suggested combining this drink special with the "3 For Me" deal, which includes a beverage, appetizer, and entrée starting at $10.99. Applebee’s offered Springtime Sips, including a Watermelon Mana Margarita for $6 and a Mocktail on the Beach for $4. Source [2] noted that these drink specials could be combined with the "2 For $25" meal deal.
Denny’s offered a Buy One Slam, Get One for $1 Deal through May 9, 2025. Source [2] specified that this offer was for dine-in only and applied to an Original Grand Slam or All-American Slam.
Retail and Service Offers
Beyond food, several retailers and service providers offered Tax Day 2017 promotions.
Entertainment and Office Supplies
Entertainment held a Tax Day Sale where all books were priced at $10.40 with free shipping. Source [1] indicated this offer was valid through April 18, 2017.
OfficeMax and Office Depot offered 5 pounds of bulk shredding for free. Source [1] reported that a coupon was required, which was valid through April 28, 2017.
Health and Wellness
Planet Fitness offered a free HydroMassage from April 15 through April 22, 2017. Source [1] stated that consumers needed to bring a coupon available on PlanetFitness.com starting April 15. Source [2] confirmed that Planet Fitness has more than 2,700 locations across all 50 states.
Online Shopping and Clothing
Schoola offered a promotion using the code "BONUS" for 30 percent off, plus a $15 credit for buying four items (or $25 in credit for eight items). Source [1] noted that the $15 credit would be issued after April 18 to the account associated with the email used for the qualifying order. Additionally, Source [1] mentioned that consumers could join Schoola for another $10 in free credit.
Tax-Free Weekends for Back-to-School Shopping
While Tax Day freebies focus on April, several states offer tax-free weekends later in the year for back-to-school shopping. Source [3] and Source [4] provided details on these events, which can be valuable for Ohio residents planning ahead.
Participating States
Source [3] listed 17 states with back-to-school tax-free holidays for 2017: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Ohio Tax-Free Weekend
Ohio’s tax-free weekend was scheduled for July 30 through August 8, 2017. Source [3] specified that the exemption applied to any "tangible personal property" items valued at under $500. Exclusions included watercraft, cars, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, and marijuana products.
Other State Highlights
Other states had specific thresholds for tax-exempt items: * Alabama: Clothing and shoes under $100 per item; school supplies under $50 per item; computers, software, and computer supplies under $750; books under $30 per item (July 19-21) [3]. * Florida: Computers and related equipment at $1,500 or less; clothing, accessories, and shoes at $100 or less; school supplies at $50 or less (July 29-August 11) [3]. * South Carolina: No price thresholds for clothing, accessories, shoes, school supplies, computers, bedding, pillows, bath towels, or musical instruments (if for school assignments) (August 2-4) [3]. * Texas: Clothing and shoes under $100 per item; school supplies and backpacks under $100 per item (August 9-11) [3]. * West Virginia: Clothing and shoes under $125 per item; school supplies under $50 per item; computers under $500 per item; school instruction material under $20 per item; sports supplies under $150 per item (August 2-5) [3].
Source [4] noted that some areas waive local sales tax during these events, and the shopping season's peak savings usually last through August into September.
Conclusion
The 2017 Tax Day period provided Ohio consumers with numerous opportunities for freebies and deals, particularly in the food and beverage sector. Brands such as Bruegger’s Bagels, Great American Cookies, Kona Ice, and McDonald's offered specific promotions on or around April 18, 2017. Additionally, retail and service providers like Planet Fitness and OfficeMax/Office Depot offered stress-relief and practical services. For those planning future purchases, tax-free weekends in Ohio and other states presented significant savings opportunities on back-to-school items.