Saturday, December 19, 2009, 8:55AM ET - U.S. Markets Closed.
Nothing quite takes the stress out of crunching the numbers on a Form 1040 like a soothing massage 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.
| More from SmartMoney.com: 6 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund 10 Things the IRS Wont Tell You Tax Tips: More Time From the Tax Man |
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.
| More from Yahoo! Finance: • Last Minute Tax Tips • 10 Things the IRS Won't Tell You • 10 Tips for Taxpayers Hit by the Recession Visit the Tax Center |
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.
See today's average rates across the country.
| Loan Type | Today | Last Week |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Year Fixed | 5.06% | 5.04% |
| 15 Year Fixed | 4.50% | 4.51% |
| 1 Year ARM | 3.91% | 3.94% |
| 30 Year Fixed Jumbo | 5.87% | 5.86% |
| 5/1 ARM | 4.32% | 4.40% |
| 3/1 ARM | 4.93% | 5.02% |
| Loan Type | Today | Last Week |
|---|---|---|
| $30K Home Equity Loan | 8.40% | 8.32% |
| $50K Home Equity Loan | 8.30% | 8.19% |
| $75K Home Equity Loan | 8.33% | 8.22% |
| $30K HELOC | 5.19% | 5.20% |
| $50K HELOC | 4.93% | 4.93% |
| $75K HELOC | 4.93% | 4.93% |
| Loan Type | Today | Last Week |
|---|---|---|
| 36 Month New Car Loan | 6.70% | 6.70% |
| 48 Month New Car Loan | 6.82% | 6.82% |
| 60 Month New Car Loan | 6.86% | 6.86% |
| 72 Month New Car Loan | 6.12% | 6.12% |
| 36 Month Used Car Loan | 7.17% | 7.17% |
| 48 Month Used Car Loan | 7.05% | 7.04% |
| Card Type | Today | Last Week |
|---|---|---|
| Business Credit Cards | 10.74% | 9.74% |
| Low Interest Credit Cards | 11.97% | 11.65% |
| Balance Transfer Credit Cards | 12.09% | 12.13% |
| Cash Back Credit Cards | 12.49% | 12.08% |
| Instant Approval Credit Cards | 13.32% | 13.32% |
| Reward Credit Cards | 13.42% | 13.29% |
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