Tax Day, April 15, 2019, marked the official deadline for filing federal income tax returns. While the day is often associated with financial obligations, it also presents an annual opportunity for consumers to access a variety of promotional offers and discounts from restaurants and retailers. These deals are designed to provide a small measure of relief or celebration as the tax season concludes. The following information details the specific freebies and discounts available on and around Tax Day 2019, based on verified reports from multiple news and deal-focused publications.
The availability of these promotions is contingent upon participation by individual locations. Consumers are advised to confirm with their local establishments before visiting. Many offers are limited to one per customer, while supplies last, and may require specific actions such as downloading an app or stating a code phrase.
Food and Beverage Promotions
A significant number of Tax Day deals originate from the restaurant and beverage industry. These range from complimentary food items to discounted meals and specialty drinks.
Burger and Bowl Deals
Several chains offered free food items to app users. B.GOOD provided a promotional offer requiring customers to download the new B.GOOD app. For Tax Day, new app users could select a free green or grain bowl or a burger at participating locations. This offer was valid from Tax Day, April 15, through Saturday, April 20, 2019. For existing app users, the promotion included free fries with any purchase during the same period.
Free Breakfast and Lunch Items
Hardee’s offered a free Made From Scratch Sausage biscuit on Tax Day, Monday, April 15, 2019. To redeem, customers needed to visit a participating location between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time and use the phrase “Made From Scratch.” The offer was limited to one per customer, while supplies lasted, and did not include tax.
Discounted Pizzas and Meals
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse featured a half-off promotion on large deep dish or Tavern-Cut Pizzas on Monday, April 15, 2019. The deal was available for dine-in, take-out, or delivery.
Farmer Boys, a burger concept with over 90 locations in California and Nevada, ran a Tax Day promo on Tuesday, April 15. Participating locations offered two Breakfast Burritos or two Bell Ringer double cheeseburgers for $10.40 all day. The regular price for a single item was $6.99 for the burrito and $5.99 for the burger.
Complimentary Sides and Snacks
California Tortilla offered free chips and queso to customers who said “1040” when placing an order. This offer was valid for one free small chips and queso per guest with any purchase at participating locations on Monday, April 15, 2019. It was valid in-store only and not applicable to online or delivery orders, nor could it be combined with other offers.
Banana’s Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt provided a free small frozen yogurt on Tax Day. This offer was limited to one per customer and was subject to availability.
Specialty Drinks and Cocktails
Applebee’s Grill & Bar promoted $1 Strawberry DOLLARITAS™ margaritas throughout the entire month of April 2019. The deal was available all day, every day, at participating locations.
Several establishments offered themed cocktails. Cachette 1907 at Le Pavillon served an Income Tax cocktail for $10.40 on April 15, 2019. The cocktail was described as a combination of rum, pineapple, orange juice, and coconut cream. Kimpton Solamar Hotel and JSix in San Diego offered a $4.15 Kimpton Solamar Lager Beer or Rye Old Fashioned on Tax Day. In Chicago, the Divine Lounge, located within the Ivy Hotel, offered 10% off the entire bill on April 15.
Food and Drink Deals with Purchase
Firehouse Subs offered a free medium sub with the purchase of a sub, chips, and a drink on Tax Day.
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken offered a dozen mini doughnuts for $10.99 on April 15 at its Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica locations. The mini dozen included a sampling of signature doughnuts such as crème brûlée, PB&J, maple bacon, and vanilla. The Downtown Los Angeles location also offered curbside pickup.
Retail and Service Promotions
Beyond food and drink, other businesses offered services and products to mark the occasion.
Free Massages
HydroMassage and Planet Fitness partnered for the 11th annual Free Massage During Tax Week through April 20, 2019. Free massages were available to both members and non-members at more than 1,700 Planet Fitness locations nationwide.
Paper Shredding
Some retailers offered free paper shredding services to help consumers securely dispose of sensitive tax documents. However, the provided source material does not specify which retailers offered this service in 2019.
Travel and Hotel Deals
Orbitz offered a real refund by refunding all taxes and fees on hotel or hotel and flight packages booked on Tax Day, Monday, April 15, 2019. To participate, users needed to visit Orbitz.com/taxday, book a qualifying package, and be an Orbitz Rewards member (or join). The refund was credited in Orbucks (travel dollars) within 48 hours and could be used toward a future hotel stay on the site.
Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Pennsylvania offered a “Tax Day Love” promotion. Guests who booked on April 15 for a stay between April 16 and December 22, 2019, received a certificate for a complimentary night to share with a friend.
Shelborne South Beach offered a “Taxation Vacation” discount to help guests celebrate and spend their tax returns. The hotel also planned to broadcast money-themed comedies like Trading Places, The Blues Brothers, and The Money Pit on its courtyard facade during the promotion period. Room rates started at $299 per night, with availability subject to restrictions.
Important Considerations for Consumers
While the deals listed above were reported for Tax Day 2019, several key factors should be considered when seeking similar promotions.
Participation and Availability
All deals were available at participating locations unless otherwise noted. This means that not every franchise or store within a chain may have honored the promotion. Consumers are strongly encouraged to call their local establishment ahead of time to confirm participation and any specific requirements.
Timing and Duration
While Tax Day is a single day, some promotions started early or extended past April 15. For example, Applebee’s $1 margaritas were available for the entire month of April. B.GOOD’s offer ran from April 15 through April 20. Other deals, like Hardee’s free biscuit, were strictly limited to the morning of Tax Day.
Redemption Requirements
Many offers required specific actions. B.GOOD required downloading its app. California Tortilla required customers to say “1040.” Hardee’s required the phrase “Made From Scratch.” Some deals, like California Tortilla’s chips and queso, required a purchase. It is essential to read the fine print of each promotion.
Geographic Limitations
The availability of these deals varied by region. For instance, Farmer Boys was primarily in California and Nevada. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken had locations in Los Angeles. Kimpton Solamar Hotel was in San Diego, and the Divine Lounge was in Chicago. National chains like Applebee’s, Hardee’s, and Planet Fitness had broader geographic reach, but participation still varied by location.
Conclusion
Tax Day 2019 offered a diverse array of freebies and discounts for U.S. consumers, primarily from the food and beverage sector. Key highlights included free food items from chains like B.GOOD and Hardee’s, discounted meals from BJ’s and Farmer Boys, and $1 margaritas from Applebee’s. Service-based promotions included free massages at Planet Fitness locations and travel refunds from Orbitz. The success of accessing these deals depended on visiting participating locations, adhering to specific redemption steps, and confirming availability locally. As these promotions are specific to the 2019 tax season, consumers should expect that current year offers may differ in brand, value, and availability.