Tax Day 2019, falling on Monday, April 15, served as a significant date for consumers seeking relief from financial stress through various promotional offers. Numerous brands across the food and retail sectors launched specific campaigns to coincide with the tax filing deadline. These initiatives ranged from completely free items to significant discounts and BOGO (buy one, get one) deals. The offers were structured to drive traffic to physical locations and digital platforms, often requiring specific actions such as app downloads, loyalty program membership, or the purchase of a related item. This guide details the verified specials available on that date, focusing on the specific terms, geographic availability, and redemption methods.
Food and Beverage Promotions
The majority of Tax Day 2019 promotions centered on the food and beverage industry, with national chains and regional favorites offering incentives to dine in, carry out, or order delivery.
Pizza and Casual Dining Chains
Pizza restaurants were particularly active during Tax Day 2019, offering deals designed for groups or family meals.
- Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: For customers willing to spend a specific amount, Grimaldi’s offered a $10.40 discount on purchases of $30 or more. This promotion required the use of the promo code TAXDAY25 during checkout, applicable only online or within the mobile app. The offer was valid on April 15, 2019, but excluded locations in Flagstaff, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; New Jersey; and New York.
- Godfathers Pizza: A specific deal was available for a large one-topping pizza and Monkey Bread for a combined price of $10.40. This offer required the code 8011E and was valid on April 18, 2019, slightly past the main Tax Day deadline.
- Happy Joe’s Pizza: On April 15, customers could receive a free small order of Cheese Stix with any pizza purchase. This deal was valid for carryout, call-in, and dine-in orders.
- Fresh Brothers: This chain offered a pizza for $10 on April 15 and 16, 2019, in honor of Tax Day. Locations were primarily in Southern California.
- Sauce Pizza & Wine: Located in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, this restaurant offered beer and wine for $4.15 on Tax Day 2019, specifically for dine-in customers.
Fast Food and Quick Service Restaurants
Major fast-food chains utilized their mobile apps and loyalty programs to distribute Tax Day offers.
- Burger King: Royal Perks members were eligible to purchase a cheeseburger for $0.01 with a minimum $1 purchase. This offer was accessible via the "Offers" tab in the BK app or online at BK.com.
- Sonic Drive-In: Sonic provided half-price drinks and slushies through their app on Tax Day.
- Arby’s: An unverified report suggested Arby’s offered free Value Curly Fries on Tax Day. Additionally, joining the Arby’s VIP Extras Club provided 50% off any sandwich.
- Slim Chickens: Customers could purchase a Chick’s Meal for $5.99 on Tax Day. The meal included three tenders, two pieces of Texas Toast, a side, and a medium drink. Locations were available nationwide.
- 7-Eleven: This convenience store chain offered a $5 pizza through their 7NOW delivery service on Tax Day.
- B.Good: An unverified offer suggested that downloading the B.Good app would allow customers to get a free green or grain bowl or a burger through April 20. Existing app users could get free fries with any purchase. Locations were concentrated in the Northeast and Texas.
Sit-Down and Casual Restaurants
Sit-down restaurants also participated with BOGO deals and discounted entrees.
- Denny’s: Denny’s offered a limited-time BOGO for $1 Grand Slam dine-in deal that extended beyond Tax Day until May 9.
- BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Members received $10 off any $40 purchase on April 15, valid for both dine-in and takeout. The code 10OFF40 was required.
- Applebees: While Applebees offered $5 Springtime Sips, specific Tax Day food deals were not detailed in the source material for 2019, though they offered a bonus $10 gift with the purchase of a $50 gift card.
- Schlotzsky’s: This chain offered a free small The Original sandwich with the purchase of chips and a medium drink. No coupon was needed, and the deal was available at all 336 locations across 24 states.
- Sonny’s BBQ: Locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina offered the half-price Irresistible Ribs Special (IRS) on April 15.
- Smokey Bones BBQ: Loyalty members could use a coupon found in their email for $10 off a $25 purchase.
- Fazoli’s: A BOGO free deal on Classic Baked Spaghetti was available using the promo code TAX25 online or in-app.
- Potbelly: Through the Potbelly app, customers could buy one salad and get one free, buy one sandwich and get one free, or buy a "Pick Your Pair" and get one free.
Health-Focused and Specialty Food
- Smoothie King: Customers could save $2 on a smoothie from April 15 through April 18. More information was available at www.smoothieking.com/taxday, and signing up for the free app was also an option. They had 1,000 locations across the U.S.
- Frutta Bowls: As part of the WOWorks family (which includes Saladworks, The Simple Greek, and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh), Frutta Bowls offered select menu items for $6 all day on Tax Day. Locations were in 16 states, including Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt (now Green Leaf’s Beyond Great Salad): An unverified offer suggested a free small frozen yogurt on Tax Day by mentioning the freebie when ordering. Locations were in 15 states.
Desserts and Beverages
- Great American Cookies: Great American Cookies offered one free Original Chocolate Chip Cookie to customers visiting participating stores on April 18. Another source noted a buy one get one free deal on slices of their classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake on April 15.
- Kona Ice: Kona Ice celebrated National "Chill Out Day" by giving away a free cup of tropical shaved ice on April 15. Participating hours and locations were available on their website.
- Marble Slab Creameries: Like Great American Cookies, they offered a free Original Chocolate Chip Cookie on April 18.
Retail and Service Promotions
While food and beverage dominated the Tax Day landscape, a few retail and service businesses offered relevant promotions.
Office Supplies and Shredding
- Staples: Staples offered free shredding for up to 1 lb of documents. This offer was likely intended to help consumers dispose of sensitive tax documents securely.
- Office Depot/OfficeMax: Similar to Staples, Office Depot/OfficeMax offered free shredding for up to five pounds of documents through April 27, requiring the use of a coupon.
Delivery Services
- Bite Squad and Waitr: These delivery services offered no delivery fees with a $20 purchase using the promo code TAXDAY19. Bite Squad served specific states including Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Loyalty Programs and App-Based Offers
A significant trend in Tax Day 2019 promotions was the reliance on digital platforms. Brands increasingly used mobile apps and loyalty programs to deliver offers, likely to capture customer data and encourage repeat visits.
- Casey’s: Casey’s Pizza Refund offer allowed customers who purchased any large pizza on April 15 to receive a free large one-topping pizza credited to their Rewards account. This "refund" was valid until May 6.
- Church’s Texas Chicken: Real Rewards members enjoyed BOGO free fish sandwiches through April 17, valid online, in-app, or in-store.
- Dog Haus: Rewards members could get a free order of tater tots with a purchase of $5 or more on Tax Day.
- Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Loyalty members received double points on all purchases of $1 or more on April 15.
- California Pizza Kitchen: CPK Rewards members saved $10 on any $40 deal from April 14 to 17.
Geographic Considerations and Verification Status
It is important to note that many of the offers listed in the source data were marked with an asterisk (*), indicating they had not yet been verified for that specific year (2019). Consumers were advised to stay tuned for updates. Furthermore, geographic availability varied significantly. While some chains like Schlotzsky’s and Smoothie King have a national footprint, others were strictly regional. For example, Sauce Pizza & Wine was located in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, while Fresh Brothers was limited to Southern California. Always verify local participation before traveling to a specific location.
Conclusion
Tax Day 2019 offered a variety of freebies and deals designed to provide a small financial break to consumers filing their taxes. The offers were heavily weighted toward the food and beverage sector, with a strong emphasis on mobile app usage and loyalty program enrollment. From free shredded tacos at Schlotzsky’s to discounted pizzas at Grimaldi’s and free cookies at Great American Cookies, there were options for various preferences. Consumers looking to take advantage of these offers needed to be aware of specific redemption methods, such as promo codes, app downloads, or in-store mentions, as well as geographic restrictions that applied to certain regional chains.