Tax Day Freebies

The tax day freebie has become something of a modern tradition as corporations angle for new customers by dangling promotions on the federal deadline for filing tax returns. 

Tax day freebies range the gamut from discounted food to discounted services, with the most topical coming from Office Depot, which is offering free shredding on five pounds of documents. 

Taxpayers are procrastinating this year. Bloomberg News reports that 4 million fewer people had filed their returns by April 7 than at the same time a year earlier. One culprit could be the increasing popularity of online filing, which could play into taxpayers’ inclination to postpone the inevitable.

“For many people, that flurry of filing is stressful,” said Sarah Berger, who writes The Cashlorette blog at Bankrate.com. “Companies realize that, and see Tax Day as an opportunity to help their customers destress, decompress and get them inside their store’s doors.”

Here are some of 2017’s tax day freebies:

Bob Evans: The chain is offering 30 percent off carry-out or dine-in meals with this coupon. 

Boston Market: The prepared-food purveyor is selling a half-chicken meal with two sides, cornbread, a fountain drink and a cookie. The cost? $10.40. 

Office Depot: If you’re ready to get rid of old documents, Office Depot is offering five pounds of free shredding. The coupon is good until April 29. 

P.F. Chang’s: The Chinese-food chain is offering 20 percent off takeout orders with the promo code TAXDAY through April 18. 

Sonic Drive In: Burger fans can buy their cheeseburgers at half price at Sonic on April 18.