Tax Day 2018, falling on Tuesday, 17 April, marked a period where numerous businesses across the United States offered promotional deals and free items to consumers. These offers were designed to provide a measure of relief or celebration for individuals filing their tax returns, regardless of whether they owed money or were receiving a refund. The available promotions spanned a variety of categories, with a significant focus on food and beverages, alongside services such as document shredding and relaxation treatments. The deals were largely valid only on the official Tax Day or during a specific window surrounding that date.
Food and Beverage Freebies
A wide array of food and beverage offers were available on Tax Day 2018. These ranged from free cookies and biscuits to discounted meals and drinks.
Cookie and Bakery Offers
Great American Cookies continued its annual Tax Day tradition by offering a free Cookies & Cream Cookie to customers at participating locations on 17 April. This promotional item, described as a vanilla cookie combined with premium chocolate sandwich cookie pieces and white chocolate chips, was available without the need for a purchase. The company’s Executive Vice President, David Kaiser, stated that the annual freebie was intended to help customers "take a delicious bite out of Tax Day stress."
Fast Food and Breakfast Items
Several fast-food chains provided free breakfast or savoury items. Hardee’s participated in this promotion by giving away free sausage biscuits from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on 17 April. To receive this item, customers were required to say the phrase "Made from scratch" or "Made From Scratch" at participating locations.
Hot Dog on a Stick offered a free Original Turkey or Veggie Dog at participating locations on Tax Day. This offer did not require a purchase or any proof of tax filing.
Full Meal Deals and Appetisers
Other restaurants provided free items with a purchase. BurgerFi offered a free regular order of hand-cut fries with any purchase on 17 April. To redeem this offer, customers had to mention the NASCAR race held on 14 April at Bristol Motor Speedway.
California Tortilla provided a free small chips and queso with any purchase when the customer said the phrase "chipping in." Outback Steakhouse offered a free Bloomin’ Onion appetizer with any purchase when customers said "Bloomin’ Tuesday" to their server. This offer was linked to a NASCAR race result involving driver Kevin Harvick.
Piada Italian Street Food gave away a free giant blackberry lemonade at all locations on Tax Day. Taco John’s, which trademarked the term "Taco Tuesday," offered a free beef taco on Monday, 16 April, which was a day early relative to Tax Day. This required a coupon available via the brand’s website, app, or social media channels.
Discounted Meals
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria offered a Traditional Cheese pizza for $10.40 on 17 April. Babbo Italian Eatery provided an eight-inch cheese pizza for $4.17 with the purchase of a drink. Grill on the Alley offered $10.40 martinis. Firehouse Subs offered a free medium sub when customers purchased a full-price medium or large sub, chips, and a drink; this deal was valid from 17 April through 19 April.
Beverages
Kona Ice participated in Tax Day with its National "Chill Out" Day, offering a free cup of tropical shaved ice from its island-inspired trucks during select hours. Customers were directed to the company website to find participating hours and locations.
Health and Wellness Offers
For consumers seeking relaxation after the stress of filing taxes, wellness brands offered specific promotions. Planet Fitness offered free massages on Tax Day to help individuals relax. This offer was available to non-members as well as members, aiming to ease the tension associated with the tax filing deadline.
Retail and Service Offers
Beyond food and wellness, there were offers related to post-filing tasks. Office Depot and OfficeMax provided a discount on paper shredding services. This was positioned as a useful service for securely disposing of sensitive documents after the tax return had been filed.
General Terms and Availability
The majority of these Tax Day freebies and deals were valid only on Tuesday, 17 April 2018, at participating locations. Several sources noted that offers could vary by franchise or location, and it was recommended that consumers call ahead to confirm participation. Some deals started early or extended slightly past the official Tax Day. The promotions were primarily available at chain establishments across the United States.
Conclusion
Tax Day 2018 provided a variety of promotional offers aimed at easing the burden or celebrating the completion of tax filings. The deals were predominantly focused on the food and beverage sector, with notable participation from brands such as Great American Cookies, Hardee’s, and Outback Steakhouse. Additional offers in wellness and retail services complemented the range of available freebies. Consumers were advised to check local availability and adhere to specific redemption requirements, such as using particular phrases or presenting coupons, to successfully access these limited-time offers.