Tax Day 2019, occurring on April 15, marked a significant date for U.S. consumers seeking promotional offers and freebies. Various businesses across the food and retail sectors structured specific deals to coincide with the federal tax filing deadline, offering relief in the form of free food, discounted meals, and complimentary services. These promotions were generally available at participating locations and often required specific actions, such as mentioning a code phrase or presenting a coupon. The scope of these offers ranged from single-day freebies to extended deals spanning several weeks.
The provided documentation details a variety of food and retail promotions available on or around April 15, 2019. These offers targeted consumers looking for value following the tax filing process. The majority of the deals were concentrated in the restaurant and quick-service food industry, with additional offers in retail services such as document shredding and wellness services.
Food and Beverage Freebies and Deals
The most prominent category of Tax Day 2019 promotions involved food and beverage establishments. These offers ranged from completely free items to discounted meals and required varying levels of consumer participation.
Quick-Service and Fast-Food Chains
Several major quick-service chains offered free items on Tax Day, often requiring a specific phrase or coupon.
- Hardee’s: Participating locations offered a free sausage biscuit on April 15 between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. To redeem this offer, customers were required to say the phrase "made from scratch" when ordering. This offer was limited to one per customer and was available while supplies lasted.
- Arby’s: Arby’s provided a free snack-sized curly fry on April 15. This offer required the use of a coupon. The documentation notes that this was Arby’s fourth year offering this specific freebie.
- McDonald’s: Participating locations offered various deals. One specific deal noted in the documentation was the option to buy one Big Mac and get a second for 50 cents. Another offer available at some locations was a free small coffee during breakfast hours on April 15. The documentation advises customers to check the mobile app for specific offers applicable to their area.
- California Tortilla: Customers could receive free chips and queso with any purchase by mentioning the phrase "1040" on Tax Day.
- Great American Cookies: Participating locations offered a free chocolate chip cookie on Tax Day.
- Kona Ice: A free cup of tropical shaved ice was available.
Sit-Down and Casual Dining
Casual dining restaurants primarily featured discounted meal deals rather than entirely free food items, with the notable exception of beverage promotions.
- Applebee’s: Applebee’s ran a promotion for $1 Strawberry Dollaritas (a strawberry margarita) throughout the month of April, including Tax Day. The drink was served with a Twizzlers candy straw.
- Boston Market: Boston Market offered a half-chicken meal and drink for $10.40 on April 15. A separate offer mentioned two half-chicken individual meals for $10.40, which included two sides and cornbread.
- Cici’s Pizza: Participating locations offered an adult buffet for $4.15 with the purchase of a large drink. A coupon was required for this transaction.
- BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: This establishment offered half off any large deep-dish or Tavern-cut large pizza.
- Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut provided a large two-topping pizza for $5.99. This deal was applicable only to online orders and carry-out.
- Red Robin: While specific details were limited, Red Robin was noted as having a Tax Day freebie involving a free milkshake, alongside other deals available through the Red Robin Royalty program.
- Tijuana Flats: Customers could get a $5 burrito on Tax Day.
- Midtown Cafe: This location offered a Ms. Cheap Tax Day special where customers mentioning "Ms. Cheap" would receive free coffee, soda, or iced tea for breakfast, brunch, or lunch/dinner on April 15.
Sandwich and Sub Shops
Submarine sandwich chains structured their promotions around purchase requirements.
- Firehouse Subs: Firehouse Subs offered a free medium sub sandwich with the purchase of a full-price medium or large sub, chips, and a drink. This offer was valid Monday through Wednesday following Tax Day at participating locations. Customers needed to present a coupon, which could be printed or shown on a phone, or found on the restaurant's social media channels.
- Schlotzsky’s: Guests received one free small The Original sandwich with the purchase of a medium-sized drink and chips.
- Subway: A mention exists of a buy-one, get-one-free sandwich deal available at participating locations if the customer mentions "tax day," though specific details on the qualifying purchase or participating stores were not detailed in the provided text.
Retail and Service Freebies
Beyond food, Tax Day 2019 included offers for services, specifically targeting document security and personal wellness.
Document Shredding
- Office Depot / Office Max: This retailer offered to shred up to five pounds of paper for free. To redeem this, customers needed to bring a coupon (available via the store's website) to the store. The offer was valid through April 17, providing a few days beyond the Tax Day deadline. This service was positioned as a way to combat identity theft by securely disposing of sensitive documents.
Wellness and Relaxation
- Planet Fitness and HydroMassage: In a partnership spanning several years, Planet Fitness and HydroMassage offered free massage sessions to both members and non-members. The promotion ran from April 14 through April 20. Customers could use available HydroMassage chairs at participating Planet Fitness locations by presenting a coupon obtained from the Hydromassage website. The documentation notes that not all locations participated, specifically mentioning Goshen and locations inside Planet Fitness gyms, and advises customers to double-check availability before visiting.
Extended and Multi-Day Offers
While many Tax Day deals were strictly for April 15, some businesses extended their promotions.
- Hooters: Hooters offered a "Kids Eat Free" promotion from April 14 through April 17. The offer was valid with a purchase of $10 or more from an adult menu.
- Corner Bakery Cafe: This cafe offered two entrees for $10.40 from Monday through Wednesday (April 15-17), dine-in only.
- Smoothie King: Smoothie King provided $2 off any smoothie for users of their rewards app.
- The Bavarian Bierhaus: Located at Opry Mills, this establishment offered 15 percent off on April 15 to guests who said the phrase "Prost! Taxes are done!"
Consumer Considerations
The documentation highlights several critical factors for consumers navigating these offers.
Participating Locations
A recurring theme across all sources is that offers were valid only at participating locations. Franchise models mean that individual store owners have discretion over which promotions to honor. Consumers were advised to call ahead to confirm their local store's participation before attempting to redeem an offer.
Availability and Limits
Many freebies were offered "while supplies last," implying limited quantities. Items like the Hardee's sausage biscuit or the free cookies at Great American Cookies could run out before the end of the day. Additionally, limits such as "one per customer" were strictly enforced.
Requirements for Redemption
Successful redemption often depended on the consumer's actions: * Code Phrases: Saying "made from scratch" (Hardee's), "1040" (California Tortilla), or "Prost! Taxes are done!" (Bavarian Bierhaus) was mandatory. * Coupons: Physical or digital coupons were required for Arby's, Cici's Pizza, Firehouse Subs, Office Depot, and Planet Fitness/HydroMassage. * App Usage: McDonald's deals were often tied to their mobile app. * Purchase Requirements: Many "free" items actually required the purchase of another product (e.g., Schlotzsky's, Firehouse Subs, Cici's Pizza).
Conclusion
Tax Day 2019 offered a diverse array of freebies and deals, primarily centered around the food and beverage industry. The promotions were designed to provide a small financial break or a moment of relief for consumers dealing with the stress of tax filing. Key free items included sausage biscuits from Hardee's, cookies from Great American Cookies, and shaved ice from Kona Ice. Significant discounts were available on pizza, burritos, and alcoholic beverages. Service-based freebies, such as document shredding at Office Depot and massages at Planet Fitness, extended the value beyond food. The success of redeeming these offers depended heavily on verifying participation at local franchises, adhering to specific redemption instructions, and, in many cases, making a qualifying purchase.