But take note: some of our favorite stores and restaurants offer a plethora of free and super-cheap spoils to make the day a little less painful.
From massages to fast food freebies, here's what retailers and restaurants will offer on Tax Day:
Valid: April 14
Deal: Come in to Outback and get a free Bloomin' Onion on Monday because Kevin "Happy" Harvick finished in the top 10 this weekend. Just say "Bloomin' Monday" to your server. The offer is valid with any purchase, and there's a limit of one free Bloomin' Onion per table.
Valid: April 15
Deal: Just like in years past, Arby's is offering everyone a free value size order of curly fries. You must download the coupon from the fast-food chain's Facebook page before you head to the restaurant.
Valid: From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., April 16
Deal: Whether you're lucky enough to have a rocking set of pipes on you or not, you can entertain fellow guests at select Hard Rock Cafe's for a free dinner entrée when you "Sing for your Supper" -- and thankfully, we see no mention of this freebie depending on your abilities. Now what could be better than dinner and a show?
Valid: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., April 15
Deal: We've found that nothing eases our arithmetic-induced stresses quite like a little something sweet. That's why we're excited to head along to Cinnabon on the big day to bag two free Cinnabon bites. They're small and cute enough to eat in one go, while you're en route to your next freebie.
Valid: From April 14 to April 18
Deal: If the sample of sugar from Cinnabon doesn't quite quell the anxiety caused by the uphill battle against those tax forms, then perhaps a gratuitous soak at HydroMassage will do the trick. The traveling jet system employed by the HydroMassage bed offers a full body massage, which will hopefully help you leave your worries at the tax office. (It is strongly encouraged that you call ahead to schedule an appointment. Note that massages may be limited to a 10 minute-routine.)
Valid: April 15
Deal: Schlotzsky's is serving up "The Original" sandwich for free in small sizes with the purchase of a 32-ounce drink and a bag of chips.
Valid: April 15
Deal: If pizza was as cheap as this all-year round, there would be little need for us to have access to a kitchen. Luckily for our health and dignity, it's not, and we're very happy to indulge in the offer since it's a once-off. You can bag-and-binge a large pepperoni pizza for just $5 and forget about rustling up dinner for the day.
Valid: April 15
Deal: No matter how full we are, we can never get enough sugar into our system, especially when we're feeling sorry for ourselves — and there are few other days in the year when we're feeling quite as self-pitying as Tax Returns Day. To keep your blood sugar and, more importantly, your mood at its peak, you can get another delicious treat with a free chocolate chip cookie from Great American Cookies.
Valid: April 15
Deal: If you've been as frugal as yours truly in the last few months out of necessity, then dining out has become a rare luxury. On Tax Day however, you can eat out in style without breaking the bank and dig into two half-chicken meals with two home-style sides and cornbread for just $10.40. That's a helluva feeding for such a low price (and we won't tell your date that you're a cheapskate, if you don't).
Valid: From now until April 29
Deal: It's bad enough that you need to dish out the dough and pay your dues when the day arrives, but spending additional dollars just getting your documents in order is downright frustrating (especially when you could be spending that dosh on something a little more glamorous). To save those precious pennies and rid yourself of that pile of paperwork after the ordeal, you can shred 5-lbs. of documents for free at your local Office Depot.
