Pizza and burritos are hardly synonymous with income tax, but two restaurant chains are trying to change that.
Customers who purchase food at any Chipotle Mexican Grill today and save the receipt can exchange it Monday for a free burrito. To take advantage, Chipotle customers must also complete a so-called “2006 BurritoEZ form,” available at any Chipotle.
Meanwhile, pizza chain Papa John’s is selling large, five-topping pizzas for $10.40 a pie. The price honors 1040 forms, the documents used to file individual tax returns. The promotion started last week and ends Tuesday, the deadline for filing tax returns. To redeem the offer, customers must enter the “1040” promotion code when placing orders on the Papa John’s website, www.papajohns.com.
Many refunds bankrolling trips
The Grand Canyon or Great Britain? If you are like many Americans, deciding where you will spend your tax refund is more relevant than deciding how you will spend it.
About 40 percent of Americans intend to spend their tax refunds on vacations, according to a survey by travel search engine Kayak.com. Another 35 percent say they will pay down debt, while 20 percent plan to save the money. Just 2 percent said they would go on a shopping spree.
Of the 6,800 people surveyed, about 70 percent chose a beach getaway as their dream vacation. Adventure travel came in second at 14 percent. Nine percent wanted to spend their refund at a spa, while 2 percent planned to kick up their heels with a night-life trip.
According to the website, more than 126 million Americans will receive an income tax refund this year. The average refund will be $2,427.
Toaster promotion a slice of the past
Bank of the West is trying to lure new customers by harking back to the good old days of giveaways.
Starting Monday, customers who open a new checking account and get a debit card at the bank – which has roughly 100 branches in Colorado – will receive a free retro-style toaster.
“It’s meant to be nostalgic, to show people that we have a sense of humor,” said John Stafford, vice president of corporate communications for the bank. “And it’s also to remind (people) that we have great customer service.
“This kind of thing is from an era when customer service was still friendly and face-to- face.”
The campaign runs through May 25. Slices of bread for toasting not included.
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
