Orbitz Will Refund Taxes on Hotels and Flights Booked on Tax Day

April 14, 2019

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3 min read

Orbitz Will Refund Taxes on Hotels and Flights Booked on Tax Day

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New tax codes got you down? Orbitz.com will refund any taxes you spend when you book a trip on Tax Day.

Though the IRS claims tax refunds are at normal levels this year, a recent survey by Orbitz indicates that 70% of taxpayers believe they'll see less of a refund. And for people who rely on their tax refunds to pay for a trip, smaller refunds could mean the difference between taking a summer vacation and staying home.

"This tax season has been a tough one, with nearly 20% of taxpayers telling us they don't expect to see a refund at all this year due to tax reform changes," Carey Malloy, director of brand and marketing at Orbitz, said in a statement. "Travel plans can be one of the first expenditures cut when people start to feel the pinch, so we're hoping to help people unwind from the stress of the season and still knock something off their bucket list."

Book a trip to Bali and Orbitz will refund the 21% tax on your hotel. Photo by Dennis Rochel on Unsplash.

That's why Orbitz is offering its first-ever tax refund promotion. Book any hotel or hotel and flight package on Tax Day (April 15) and Orbitz will match the taxes and fees in Orbucks (up to $250) that you can use on a future trip. There is no limit on trip length, but note that any taxes and fees paid for at the destination (you know, like those pesky resort fees) are not covered by the promotion.

Depending on where you book a trip, this could add up to serious savings, since taxes could add on an extra 15 to 25% of the total cost of the trip. According to Orbitz's report on taxes and fees data, the destinations on Orbitz.com with the highest taxes and fees are the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Turks and Caicos.

To take advantage of this deal, make sure to register for Orbitz Rewards then go to Orbitz.com/taxday to book. The terms and conditions stipulate that Tax Day Orbucks will be deposited into your Orbitz Rewards account within approximately 48 hours of booking, and expire if not redeemed within 60 days of issuance.

For more on Tax Day, read up on How to Use Your Tax Refund for Travel.

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