18 Deals That Offer Some Tax-Day Relief

Nothing quite takes the stress out of crunching the numbers on a Form 1040 like a soothing massage, a martini or some chocolate-raspberry ice cream.

From national retail chains to local mom and pops, many businesses are offering freebies and special sales to taxpayers this week. National boutique hotel chain Kimpton Hotels, for example, is eliminating the room tax -- as high as 10% -- for guests who book its Sweet Tax Relief package through the end of April. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro plans to knock 15% off the total bill for diners on April 15, while L’Institut Sothys Spa in New York will cut the price of its $135 hour-long massage in half until the end of tax week.

Take advantage of the discounts and deals where you can. Just be cautious about blowing a big portion of your refund -- there are smarter ways to use it.

Here are some of the tax-day (or, in some cases, tax-week) deals available at businesses nationwide:

National Deals

Chick-fil-A
Visit a participating restaurant April 15 and hang onto your receipt. The “Tax Relief Day Special” lets you return before April 30 to receive the same order for free.

Cinnabon
Stop by Cinnabon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 15 for free cinnamon-roll bites (regularly $2.49 for four).

Jacuzzi
The Tax Relief Sale offers savings of up to $2,000 on select models purchased on or before April 15.

Kimpton Hotels
Through April 30, ask for the Sweet Tax Relief Package and the hotel will pay the tax on your room. (At the Sky Hotel is Aspen that saves you the 10% that would have been tacked onto the $187-per-night deluxe room.) Dine at a property's restaurant, and they’ll pay the sales tax there, too.

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery
On April 15, get one free scoop of ice cream.

McCormick & Schmick’s
On April 15, the chain offers a $10.40 menu of entrees. (Entrees regularly range from $16 to $33.) Each diner also receives a $10.40 “tax relief” gift certificate for a future meal.

PF Chang ’s China Bistro
Dine at one of P.F. Chang's 130-plus restaurant locations across the country on April 15, and save 15% on the total bill.

Taco Del Mar
Sign up online to receive a coupon for a free taco (regularly $1.89) during the “Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion April 15.

T.G.I. Friday’s
On April 15, diners receive a $5 gift card when they spend $15 to $25. They earn a $10 card for a purchase of more than $25.

Zazzle.com
Save 10.4% (it's advertised as 10.40%) on all orders at this T-shirt and apparel web site using code TAXDAYZAZZLE at checkout. Offer only good on April 15.

Local Deals

2Fast (Snohomish, Wash.)
Sign up for a motorcycle ride at this instructional school’s track April 15, and save $10 off the price of registration (regularly $189). Bring in a blank tax form with you to the track, and receive another $10 rebate.

Area 31 (Miami)
Skip the sales tax when you dine out April 15.

Boise Co-Op Wine Shop (Boise, Idaho)
Save 15% off six or more bottles on April 15.

Energy Kitchen (New York)
Drop by the local chain on April 15 between noon and 2 p.m. for a free sandwich with a drink purchase.

Grafton Street Pub & Grill (Cambridge, Mass.)
Swing by Grafton Street on April 15 for late-night menu prices topped at $9.90 (in honor of Form 990, the return form nonprofits file). Regularly, bar menu prices go up to $12.

L’Institut Sothys Spa (New York)
Through April 17, enjoy an hour-long massage (regularly $135) for half price.

Va Pensiero (Evanston, Ill.)
Dine at this restaurant on April 15 and receive 15-cent martinis (regularly $10).

White Crane Winery (Livermore, Calif.)
The winery pays the sales tax on purchases on April 18 or 19.