Advice, Community & Common Sense

Several companies are offering relief to taxpayers by giving away goodies or offering special deals.

By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com

Tax day probably isn't on the top of anyone's list of favorite days. But here's a reason you can actually look forward to April 18 (the deadline for filing your tax return this year): FREEBIES.

Several companies will be offering relief to taxpayers in the form of free treats, food, workouts and massages, and drink and dining specials. Here's a rundown of who is offering what:

Bally Total Fitness is letting anyone work out for free April 18. Members can sign up from April 15 through April 21 for a free 30-minute personal training session. And during that same period, non-members can take advantage of a tax day membership special with a two-year Premier National Access membership for $418, a savings of $61 from the standard price.

California Tortilla is giving customers free chips and cheese (queso) with a purchase on April 18 because "you have to pay the big cheese."

Cinnabon will offer two free Classic Cinnabon Bites on April 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of its Tax Day Bites promotion.

HydroMassage locations nationwide will provide free massages between April 14 and April 18 to help eliminate the stress of tax filing. Get a coupon for a free message at www.hydromassage.com/taxday.htm and call ahead to schedule a session.

IHOP has a kids-eat-free promo the entire month of April. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., children 12 and younger get one free meal with each paying adult.

MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery will offer a free mini ice cream sundae from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 18. The "Sundae Stimulus" will feature the new Crumb Cake Fundae, which includes cinnamon Hostess® Streusel Cake, cinnamon "Cinamoo" ice cream, caramel sauce, mixed nuts and whipped cream.

McCormick & Schmick's will host an all-day Tax Relief Procrastinators Celebration on Monday April 18, featuring a variety of $10.40 entrée specials (available in the bar only) and tax relief drink specials. For extra tax relief, all guests who make a purchase in the bar all day on April 18 will receive a $10.40 dining certificate (while they last) to use the next time they visit the restaurant.

P.F. Chang's is offering a 15% discount on dine-in and carry-out orders April 18 (alcohol and happy hour items excluded).

Unfortunately, several companies that offered tax-day freebies in the past won't be doing so this year. For example, you won't get a free cup of coffee at Starbucks this year. Subway, Jamba Juice, Dunkin' Donuts, Kimpton Hotels and T.G.I. Friday's won't offer any special deals on tax day, either. [Rick:  Who says the recession is over?]