diff --git a/backend/alembic/env.py b/backend/alembic/env.py
index 9134d11..d24bee3 100644
--- a/backend/alembic/env.py
+++ b/backend/alembic/env.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from app.models import (  # noqa: F401 — registers metadata
     Goal,
     GoalContribution,
     RecurringTransaction,
+    Tag,
     Transaction,
 )
 
diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/f6a4d8b2e017_add_tags.py b/backend/alembic/versions/f6a4d8b2e017_add_tags.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d256e54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/f6a4d8b2e017_add_tags.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+"""add tags and transaction_tags
+
+Revision ID: f6a4d8b2e017
+Revises: 8e2f5a13c9d4
+Create Date: 2026-08-25 11:00:00.000000
+
+"""
+from typing import Sequence, Union
+
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = 'f6a4d8b2e017'
+down_revision: Union[str, None] = '8e2f5a13c9d4'
+branch_labels: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+depends_on: Union[str, Sequence[str], None] = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.create_table(
+        'tags',
+        sa.Column('id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column('name', sa.String(length=50), nullable=False),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id'),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint('name'),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        'transaction_tags',
+        sa.Column('transaction_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column('tag_id', sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['transaction_id'], ['transactions.id'], ondelete='CASCADE'),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['tag_id'], ['tags.id'], ondelete='CASCADE'),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('transaction_id', 'tag_id'),
+    )
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_table('transaction_tags')
+    op.drop_table('tags')
diff --git a/backend/app/api/routes/tags.py b/backend/app/api/routes/tags.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea5d0e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/api/routes/tags.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException
+from sqlalchemy import func, select
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
+
+from app.api.deps import get_session
+from app.models.tag import Tag
+from app.schemas.tag import TagCreate, TagRead
+
+router = APIRouter(prefix="/tags", tags=["tags"])
+
+
+@router.get("", response_model=list[TagRead])
+async def list_tags(session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_session)) -> list[Tag]:
+    result = await session.execute(select(Tag).order_by(Tag.name))
+    return list(result.scalars().all())
+
+
+@router.post("", response_model=TagRead, status_code=201)
+async def create_tag(payload: TagCreate, session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_session)) -> Tag:
+    # Case-insensitive dedup — the frontend's tag picker creates tags
+    # on the fly as the user types, so "Georgia" and "georgia" typed on two
+    # different transactions should end up as the same tag, not two.
+    name = payload.name.strip()
+    existing = await session.execute(select(Tag).where(func.lower(Tag.name) == name.lower()))
+    tag = existing.scalar_one_or_none()
+    if tag is not None:
+        return tag
+    tag = Tag(name=name)
+    session.add(tag)
+    await session.commit()
+    await session.refresh(tag)
+    return tag
+
+
+@router.delete("/{tag_id}", status_code=204)
+async def delete_tag(tag_id: int, session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_session)) -> None:
+    tag = await session.get(Tag, tag_id)
+    if tag is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Tag not found")
+    await session.delete(tag)
+    await session.commit()
diff --git a/backend/app/api/routes/transactions.py b/backend/app/api/routes/transactions.py
index ce3f9e8..4aca192 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/routes/transactions.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/routes/transactions.py
@@ -9,12 +9,24 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
 from app.api.deps import get_session
 from app.models.category import Category
 from app.models.enums import CategoryKind, TransactionType
+from app.models.tag import Tag
 from app.models.transaction import Transaction
 from app.schemas.transaction import TransactionCreate, TransactionPage, TransactionRead, TransactionUpdate
 
 router = APIRouter(prefix="/transactions", tags=["transactions"])
 
-_EAGER = (selectinload(Transaction.account), selectinload(Transaction.category))
+_EAGER = (selectinload(Transaction.account), selectinload(Transaction.category), selectinload(Transaction.tags))
+
+
+async def _resolve_tags(session: AsyncSession, tag_ids: list[int]) -> list[Tag]:
+    if not tag_ids:
+        return []
+    result = await session.execute(select(Tag).where(Tag.id.in_(tag_ids)))
+    tags = list(result.scalars().all())
+    missing = set(tag_ids) - {tag.id for tag in tags}
+    if missing:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=f"Unknown tag id(s): {sorted(missing)}")
+    return tags
 
 _TYPE_TO_CATEGORY_KIND = {
     TransactionType.INCOME: CategoryKind.INCOME,
@@ -50,6 +62,7 @@ async def list_transactions(
     end_date: date_ | None = Query(default=None),
     account_id: int | None = None,
     category_id: int | None = None,
+    tag_id: int | None = None,
     type: TransactionType | None = None,
     search: str | None = Query(default=None, min_length=1, max_length=255),
     sort: Literal["date_desc", "amount_desc", "amount_asc"] = Query(default="date_desc"),
@@ -78,6 +91,9 @@ async def list_transactions(
     if category_id is not None:
         stmt = stmt.where(Transaction.category_id == category_id)
         count_stmt = count_stmt.where(Transaction.category_id == category_id)
+    if tag_id is not None:
+        stmt = stmt.where(Transaction.tags.any(Tag.id == tag_id))
+        count_stmt = count_stmt.where(Transaction.tags.any(Tag.id == tag_id))
     if type is not None:
         stmt = stmt.where(Transaction.type == type)
         count_stmt = count_stmt.where(Transaction.type == type)
@@ -127,7 +143,9 @@ async def list_transaction_years(session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_session)) -
 @router.post("", response_model=TransactionRead, status_code=201)
 async def create_transaction(payload: TransactionCreate, session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_session)) -> Transaction:
     await _ensure_category_matches_type(session, payload.category_id, payload.type)
-    transaction = Transaction(**payload.model_dump())
+    fields = payload.model_dump(exclude={"tag_ids"})
+    transaction = Transaction(**fields)
+    transaction.tags = await _resolve_tags(session, payload.tag_ids)
     session.add(transaction)
     await session.commit()
     refreshed = await session.execute(
@@ -140,15 +158,20 @@ async def create_transaction(payload: TransactionCreate, session: AsyncSession =
 async def update_transaction(
     transaction_id: int, payload: TransactionUpdate, session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_session)
 ) -> Transaction:
-    transaction = await session.get(Transaction, transaction_id)
+    # Eager-loads tags — assigning transaction.tags below would otherwise lazy
+    # -load the current collection first to diff against, which async
+    # SQLAlchemy can't do outside an explicit await (MissingGreenlet).
+    transaction = await session.get(Transaction, transaction_id, options=[selectinload(Transaction.tags)])
     if transaction is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Transaction not found")
-    updates = payload.model_dump(exclude_unset=True)
+    updates = payload.model_dump(exclude_unset=True, exclude={"tag_ids"})
     effective_type = updates.get("type", transaction.type)
     effective_category_id = updates.get("category_id", transaction.category_id)
     await _ensure_category_matches_type(session, effective_category_id, effective_type)
     for field, value in updates.items():
         setattr(transaction, field, value)
+    if payload.tag_ids is not None:
+        transaction.tags = await _resolve_tags(session, payload.tag_ids)
     await session.commit()
     refreshed = await session.execute(
         select(Transaction).options(*_EAGER).where(Transaction.id == transaction_id)
diff --git a/backend/app/main.py b/backend/app/main.py
index e1f5a44..06f40cb 100644
--- a/backend/app/main.py
+++ b/backend/app/main.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from app.api.routes import (
     recurring,
     reports,
     settings as settings_routes,
+    tags,
     transactions,
 )
 from app.core.config import APP_VERSION, get_settings
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ app.include_router(advice.router, prefix="/api")
 app.include_router(goals.router, prefix="/api")
 app.include_router(recurring.router, prefix="/api")
 app.include_router(cash_flow.router, prefix="/api")
+app.include_router(tags.router, prefix="/api")
 
 
 @app.get("/api/health")
diff --git a/backend/app/models/__init__.py b/backend/app/models/__init__.py
index 25b533b..68d6a4b 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/__init__.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/__init__.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from app.models.category import Category
 from app.models.goal import Goal, GoalContribution
 from app.models.recurring import RecurringTransaction
 from app.models.settings import AppSettings
+from app.models.tag import Tag
 from app.models.transaction import Transaction
 
 __all__ = [
@@ -17,5 +18,6 @@ __all__ = [
     "Goal",
     "GoalContribution",
     "RecurringTransaction",
+    "Tag",
     "Transaction",
 ]
diff --git a/backend/app/models/tag.py b/backend/app/models/tag.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7dfeabd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/models/tag.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"""A free-form, reusable label on transactions — orthogonal to Category:
+a category answers "what kind of spend is this", a tag answers "which
+event/project does it belong to" (e.g. "trip:georgia", "tax-deductible").
+A transaction can carry any number of tags, a tag can be reused across any
+number of transactions — see transaction_tags below.
+"""
+from sqlalchemy import Column, ForeignKey, String, Table
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column, relationship
+
+from app.db.base import Base
+
+transaction_tags = Table(
+    "transaction_tags",
+    Base.metadata,
+    Column("transaction_id", ForeignKey("transactions.id", ondelete="CASCADE"), primary_key=True),
+    Column("tag_id", ForeignKey("tags.id", ondelete="CASCADE"), primary_key=True),
+)
+
+
+class Tag(Base):
+    __tablename__ = "tags"
+
+    id: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(primary_key=True)
+    name: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String(50), nullable=False, unique=True)
+
+    transactions: Mapped[list["Transaction"]] = relationship(secondary=transaction_tags, back_populates="tags")
diff --git a/backend/app/models/transaction.py b/backend/app/models/transaction.py
index 245c0b3..c51397a 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/transaction.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/transaction.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import Mapped, mapped_column, relationship
 from app.db.base import Base
 from app.models.enums import TransactionType
 from app.models.mixins import TimestampMixin
+from app.models.tag import transaction_tags
 
 
 class Transaction(Base, TimestampMixin):
@@ -33,3 +34,4 @@ class Transaction(Base, TimestampMixin):
     account: Mapped["Account"] = relationship(back_populates="transactions", foreign_keys=[account_id])
     transfer_account: Mapped["Account | None"] = relationship(foreign_keys=[transfer_account_id])
     category: Mapped["Category | None"] = relationship(back_populates="transactions")
+    tags: Mapped[list["Tag"]] = relationship(secondary=transaction_tags, back_populates="transactions")
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/backup.py b/backend/app/schemas/backup.py
index d923cc5..91503e6 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/backup.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/backup.py
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ class CategoryBackup(BaseModel):
     parent_id: int | None = None
 
 
+class TagBackup(BaseModel):
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
+
+    id: int
+    name: str
+
+
 class TransactionBackup(BaseModel):
     model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
 
@@ -55,6 +62,11 @@ class TransactionBackup(BaseModel):
     merchant: str | None
     notes: str | None
     date: date_
+    # Defaulted so a backup exported before tags existed still imports
+    # cleanly under the same format version. Not a plain column — populated
+    # explicitly in build_backup() from the `tags` relationship, since
+    # from_attributes can't map a `tags` relationship to a `tag_ids` field.
+    tag_ids: list[int] = Field(default_factory=list)
 
 
 class AssetBackup(BaseModel):
@@ -155,6 +167,9 @@ class BackupPayload(BaseModel):
     app_version: str
     accounts: list[AccountBackup]
     categories: list[CategoryBackup]
+    # Defaulted so a backup exported before tags existed still imports
+    # cleanly under the same format version.
+    tags: list[TagBackup] = Field(default_factory=list)
     transactions: list[TransactionBackup]
     assets: list[AssetBackup]
     asset_valuations: list[AssetValuationBackup]
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/tag.py b/backend/app/schemas/tag.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d37e9ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/tag.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict, Field
+
+
+class TagCreate(BaseModel):
+    name: str = Field(min_length=1, max_length=50)
+
+
+class TagRead(BaseModel):
+    model_config = ConfigDict(from_attributes=True)
+
+    id: int
+    name: str
diff --git a/backend/app/schemas/transaction.py b/backend/app/schemas/transaction.py
index 9c6d089..907b2bb 100644
--- a/backend/app/schemas/transaction.py
+++ b/backend/app/schemas/transaction.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from app.core.text import capitalize_first_letter
 from app.models.enums import TransactionType
 from app.schemas.account import AccountRead
 from app.schemas.category import CategoryRead
+from app.schemas.tag import TagRead
 
 
 class TransactionBase(BaseModel):
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ class TransactionBase(BaseModel):
 
 
 class TransactionCreate(TransactionBase):
-    pass
+    tag_ids: list[int] = Field(default_factory=list)
 
 
 class TransactionUpdate(BaseModel):
@@ -54,6 +55,8 @@ class TransactionUpdate(BaseModel):
     merchant: str | None = Field(default=None, max_length=150)
     notes: str | None = None
     date: date_ | None = None
+    # Omitted -> tags untouched; sent (even as []) -> replaces the full tag set.
+    tag_ids: list[int] | None = None
 
     @field_validator("description")
     @classmethod
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ class TransactionRead(TransactionBase):
     id: int
     account: AccountRead
     category: CategoryRead | None = None
+    tags: list[TagRead] = Field(default_factory=list)
 
 
 class TransactionPage(BaseModel):
diff --git a/backend/app/services/backup_service.py b/backend/app/services/backup_service.py
index 9c98e80..39fbd27 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/backup_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/backup_service.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from fastapi import HTTPException
 from sqlalchemy import delete, select, text
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
+from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
 
 from app.core.config import APP_VERSION
 from app.models.account import Account
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ from app.models.category import Category
 from app.models.goal import Goal, GoalContribution
 from app.models.recurring import RecurringTransaction
 from app.models.settings import AppSettings
+from app.models.tag import Tag
 from app.models.transaction import Transaction
 from app.schemas.backup import (
     AccountBackup,
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ from app.schemas.backup import (
     GoalBackup,
     GoalContributionBackup,
     RecurringTransactionBackup,
+    TagBackup,
     TransactionBackup,
 )
 
@@ -44,7 +47,8 @@ BACKUP_FORMAT_VERSION = 1
 async def build_backup(session: AsyncSession) -> BackupPayload:
     accounts = (await session.execute(select(Account))).scalars().all()
     categories = (await session.execute(select(Category))).scalars().all()
-    transactions = (await session.execute(select(Transaction))).scalars().all()
+    tags = (await session.execute(select(Tag))).scalars().all()
+    transactions = (await session.execute(select(Transaction).options(selectinload(Transaction.tags)))).scalars().all()
     assets = (await session.execute(select(Asset))).scalars().all()
     valuations = (await session.execute(select(AssetValuation))).scalars().all()
     budgets = (await session.execute(select(Budget))).scalars().all()
@@ -59,7 +63,13 @@ async def build_backup(session: AsyncSession) -> BackupPayload:
         app_version=APP_VERSION,
         accounts=[AccountBackup.model_validate(row) for row in accounts],
         categories=[CategoryBackup.model_validate(row) for row in categories],
-        transactions=[TransactionBackup.model_validate(row) for row in transactions],
+        tags=[TagBackup.model_validate(row) for row in tags],
+        transactions=[
+            TransactionBackup.model_validate(row, from_attributes=True).model_copy(
+                update={"tag_ids": [tag.id for tag in row.tags]}
+            )
+            for row in transactions
+        ],
         assets=[AssetBackup.model_validate(row) for row in assets],
         asset_valuations=[AssetValuationBackup.model_validate(row) for row in valuations],
         budgets=[BudgetBackup.model_validate(row) for row in budgets],
@@ -74,6 +84,7 @@ def _validate_references(payload: BackupPayload) -> None:
     account_ids = {row.id for row in payload.accounts}
     category_ids = {row.id for row in payload.categories}
     asset_ids = {row.id for row in payload.assets}
+    tag_ids = {row.id for row in payload.tags}
 
     for c in payload.categories:
         if c.parent_id is not None and c.parent_id not in category_ids:
@@ -88,6 +99,9 @@ def _validate_references(payload: BackupPayload) -> None:
             )
         if t.category_id is not None and t.category_id not in category_ids:
             raise HTTPException(400, f"Transaction {t.id} references unknown category_id {t.category_id}")
+        for tag_id in t.tag_ids:
+            if tag_id not in tag_ids:
+                raise HTTPException(400, f"Transaction {t.id} references unknown tag_id {tag_id}")
 
     for v in payload.asset_valuations:
         if v.asset_id not in asset_ids:
@@ -144,7 +158,10 @@ async def restore_backup(session: AsyncSession, payload: BackupPayload) -> None:
         await session.execute(delete(GoalContribution))
         await session.execute(delete(Goal))
         await session.execute(delete(RecurringTransaction))
+        # Deleting transactions cascades transaction_tags rows (ON DELETE
+        # CASCADE) — tags themselves still need their own delete.
         await session.execute(delete(Transaction))
+        await session.execute(delete(Tag))
         await session.execute(delete(Asset))
         await session.execute(delete(Category))
         await session.execute(delete(Account))
@@ -158,7 +175,22 @@ async def restore_backup(session: AsyncSession, payload: BackupPayload) -> None:
         session.add_all(Account(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.accounts)
         session.add_all(Category(**row.model_dump()) for row in categories_in_order)
         session.add_all(Asset(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.assets)
-        session.add_all(Transaction(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.transactions)
+
+        # Tags and transactions are kept in id-keyed dicts (rather than a
+        # plain add_all) — transaction.tags is a relationship, not a column
+        # in model_dump(), so it has to be wired up from live ORM objects
+        # once everything is flushed and has real identities.
+        tags_by_id = {row.id: Tag(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.tags}
+        session.add_all(tags_by_id.values())
+        # tags=[] at construction keeps the collection "loaded" on the
+        # transient object — reassigning it after flush (below) would
+        # otherwise trigger an implicit lazy-load, which async SQLAlchemy
+        # can't do outside an explicit await (MissingGreenlet).
+        transactions_by_id = {
+            row.id: Transaction(**row.model_dump(exclude={"tag_ids"}), tags=[]) for row in payload.transactions
+        }
+        session.add_all(transactions_by_id.values())
+
         session.add_all(AssetValuation(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.asset_valuations)
         session.add_all(Budget(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.budgets)
         session.add_all(Goal(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.goals)
@@ -166,8 +198,15 @@ async def restore_backup(session: AsyncSession, payload: BackupPayload) -> None:
         session.add_all(RecurringTransaction(**row.model_dump()) for row in payload.recurring_transactions)
         await session.flush()
 
+        for row in payload.transactions:
+            if row.tag_ids:
+                transactions_by_id[row.id].tags = [tags_by_id[tag_id] for tag_id in row.tag_ids]
+        if any(row.tag_ids for row in payload.transactions):
+            await session.flush()
+
         await _reset_sequence(session, "accounts", payload.accounts)
         await _reset_sequence(session, "categories", payload.categories)
+        await _reset_sequence(session, "tags", payload.tags)
         await _reset_sequence(session, "assets", payload.assets)
         await _reset_sequence(session, "transactions", payload.transactions)
         await _reset_sequence(session, "asset_valuations", payload.asset_valuations)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_backup.py b/backend/tests/test_backup.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c8f1f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_backup.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+"""Full-database backup export/import (services/backup_service.py) — only
+the parts this change touched: subcategories (self-referential parent_id)
+and tags (many-to-many) surviving a round trip.
+"""
+from httpx import AsyncClient
+
+from tests.helpers import txn_payload as _txn
+
+
+async def test_backup_roundtrip_preserves_subcategories_and_tags(client: AsyncClient, account_id, categories):
+    parent = await client.post("/categories", json={"name": "Custom Parent", "kind": "expense", "color": "#e34948"})
+    parent_id = parent.json()["id"]
+    child = await client.post(
+        "/categories", json={"name": "Custom Child", "kind": "expense", "color": "#e34948", "parent_id": parent_id}
+    )
+    child_id = child.json()["id"]
+
+    tag = (await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "Roundtrip"})).json()["id"]
+    created = await client.post("/transactions", json=_txn(account_id, category_id=child_id, tag_ids=[tag]))
+    txn_id = created.json()["id"]
+
+    export_resp = await client.get("/backup/export")
+    assert export_resp.status_code == 200
+    payload = export_resp.json()
+
+    import_resp = await client.post("/backup/import", json=payload)
+    assert import_resp.status_code == 200, import_resp.text
+
+    refetched_categories = {c["id"]: c for c in (await client.get("/categories")).json()}
+    assert refetched_categories[child_id]["parent_id"] == parent_id
+
+    refetched_txn = next(t for t in (await client.get("/transactions")).json()["items"] if t["id"] == txn_id)
+    assert [t["id"] for t in refetched_txn["tags"]] == [tag]
+
+
+async def test_backup_import_rejects_transaction_with_unknown_tag_id(client: AsyncClient, account_id, categories):
+    export_resp = await client.get("/backup/export")
+    payload = export_resp.json()
+
+    created = await client.post(
+        "/transactions", json=_txn(account_id, category_id=categories["Groceries"]["id"], date="2026-01-01")
+    )
+    payload["transactions"] = (await client.get("/transactions")).json()["items"]
+    # Reshape to the backup wire format (flat FKs, not nested account/category
+    # objects) and inject a tag_id that doesn't exist in payload["tags"].
+    payload["transactions"] = [
+        {
+            "id": t["id"],
+            "account_id": t["account_id"],
+            "category_id": t["category_id"],
+            "transfer_account_id": t["transfer_account_id"],
+            "type": t["type"],
+            "amount": t["amount"],
+            "description": t["description"],
+            "merchant": t["merchant"],
+            "notes": t["notes"],
+            "date": t["date"],
+            "tag_ids": [999999] if t["id"] == created.json()["id"] else [],
+        }
+        for t in payload["transactions"]
+    ]
+
+    resp = await client.post("/backup/import", json=payload)
+    assert resp.status_code == 400
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_tags.py b/backend/tests/test_tags.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42866a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_tags.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+"""Tags: CRUD, case-insensitive dedup on create, and their use on
+transactions (create/update with tag_ids, filtering by tag_id).
+"""
+from httpx import AsyncClient
+
+from tests.helpers import txn_payload as _txn
+
+
+async def test_create_tag(client: AsyncClient):
+    resp = await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "Georgia Trip"})
+    assert resp.status_code == 201
+    assert resp.json()["name"] == "Georgia Trip"
+
+
+async def test_create_tag_dedups_case_insensitively(client: AsyncClient):
+    first = await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "Tax Deductible"})
+    second = await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "tax deductible"})
+
+    assert first.json()["id"] == second.json()["id"]
+    assert len((await client.get("/tags")).json()) == 1
+
+
+async def test_delete_tag(client: AsyncClient):
+    created = await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "Temp"})
+    resp = await client.delete(f"/tags/{created.json()['id']}")
+    assert resp.status_code == 204
+    assert (await client.get("/tags")).json() == []
+
+
+async def test_create_transaction_with_tags(client: AsyncClient, account_id, categories):
+    tag = await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "Georgia"})
+    tag_id = tag.json()["id"]
+
+    resp = await client.post(
+        "/transactions",
+        json=_txn(account_id, category_id=categories["Groceries"]["id"], tag_ids=[tag_id]),
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 201
+    assert [t["id"] for t in resp.json()["tags"]] == [tag_id]
+
+
+async def test_update_transaction_replaces_tags(client: AsyncClient, account_id, categories):
+    tag_a = (await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "A"})).json()["id"]
+    tag_b = (await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "B"})).json()["id"]
+    created = await client.post(
+        "/transactions", json=_txn(account_id, category_id=categories["Groceries"]["id"], tag_ids=[tag_a])
+    )
+    txn_id = created.json()["id"]
+
+    resp = await client.patch(f"/transactions/{txn_id}", json={"tag_ids": [tag_b]})
+    assert [t["id"] for t in resp.json()["tags"]] == [tag_b]
+
+    # Omitting tag_ids entirely leaves the existing tags untouched.
+    resp = await client.patch(f"/transactions/{txn_id}", json={"description": "renamed"})
+    assert [t["id"] for t in resp.json()["tags"]] == [tag_b]
+
+    # Sending an empty list clears them.
+    resp = await client.patch(f"/transactions/{txn_id}", json={"tag_ids": []})
+    assert resp.json()["tags"] == []
+
+
+async def test_create_transaction_rejects_unknown_tag_id(client: AsyncClient, account_id, categories):
+    resp = await client.post(
+        "/transactions",
+        json=_txn(account_id, category_id=categories["Groceries"]["id"], tag_ids=[999999]),
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 400
+
+
+async def test_filter_transactions_by_tag(client: AsyncClient, account_id, categories):
+    tag = (await client.post("/tags", json={"name": "Filtered"})).json()["id"]
+    await client.post(
+        "/transactions", json=_txn(account_id, category_id=categories["Groceries"]["id"], tag_ids=[tag])
+    )
+    await client.post("/transactions", json=_txn(account_id, category_id=categories["Groceries"]["id"]))
+
+    resp = await client.get("/transactions", params={"tag_id": tag})
+    body = resp.json()
+    assert body["total"] == 1
+    assert body["items"][0]["tags"][0]["id"] == tag
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 72e96cb..0f7e24e 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "aurum-frontend",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "0.24.0",
+  "version": "0.25.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/tags.ts b/frontend/src/api/tags.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb1fe63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/api/tags.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import { api } from "@/api/client";
+import type { Tag } from "@/types";
+
+export function fetchTags() {
+  return api.get<Tag[]>("/tags");
+}
+
+export function createTag(name: string) {
+  return api.post<Tag>("/tags", { name });
+}
+
+export function deleteTag(id: number) {
+  return api.delete<void>(`/tags/${id}`);
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/transactions.ts b/frontend/src/api/transactions.ts
index 3964649..bdee9e1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/transactions.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/transactions.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export interface TransactionFilters {
   end_date?: string;
   account_id?: number;
   category_id?: number;
+  tag_id?: number;
   type?: string;
   search?: string;
   sort?: TransactionSort;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/transactions/TagInput.tsx b/frontend/src/components/transactions/TagInput.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12ba615
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/transactions/TagInput.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import { useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { X } from "lucide-react";
+import { useCreateTag, useTags } from "@/hooks/useTags";
+import { useTranslation } from "@/lib/i18n";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+import type { Tag } from "@/types";
+
+interface TagInputProps {
+  value: Tag[];
+  onChange: (tags: Tag[]) => void;
+}
+
+// Free-text, multi-select tag picker with inline create — types like an
+// autocomplete, Enter either picks the top matching existing tag or creates
+// a new one (the backend dedupes case-insensitively either way, see
+// routes/tags.py). No dedicated tag-management page yet: renaming/deleting a
+// tag globally isn't exposed here, only removing it from this transaction.
+export function TagInput({ value, onChange }: TagInputProps) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const { data: allTags } = useTags();
+  const createTag = useCreateTag();
+
+  const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+
+  const selectedIds = new Set(value.map((tag) => tag.id));
+  const trimmedQuery = query.trim();
+  const suggestions = (allTags ?? [])
+    .filter((tag) => !selectedIds.has(tag.id))
+    .filter((tag) => (trimmedQuery ? tag.name.toLowerCase().includes(trimmedQuery.toLowerCase()) : true))
+    .slice(0, 8);
+  const exactMatch = (allTags ?? []).find((tag) => tag.name.toLowerCase() === trimmedQuery.toLowerCase());
+
+  function addTag(tag: Tag) {
+    onChange([...value, tag]);
+    setQuery("");
+    setOpen(false);
+    inputRef.current?.focus();
+  }
+
+  function removeTag(tagId: number) {
+    onChange(value.filter((tag) => tag.id !== tagId));
+  }
+
+  async function commitQuery() {
+    if (!trimmedQuery) return;
+    if (exactMatch) {
+      addTag(exactMatch);
+      return;
+    }
+    const created = await createTag.mutateAsync(trimmedQuery);
+    addTag(created);
+  }
+
+  function handleKeyDown(event: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
+    if (event.key === "Enter") {
+      event.preventDefault();
+      if (suggestions[0]) addTag(suggestions[0]);
+      else void commitQuery();
+    } else if (event.key === "Escape") {
+      setOpen(false);
+    } else if (event.key === "Backspace" && !query && value.length > 0) {
+      removeTag(value[value.length - 1].id);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="relative">
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-border bg-surface-1 px-2 py-1.5 focus-within:border-series-1">
+        {value.map((tag) => (
+          <span
+            key={tag.id}
+            className="flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-surface-2 py-0.5 pl-2 pr-1 text-xs text-text-secondary"
+          >
+            {tag.name}
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              aria-label={t("transactions.form.removeTag", { name: tag.name })}
+              onClick={() => removeTag(tag.id)}
+              className="rounded-full p-0.5 text-text-muted hover:bg-surface-1 hover:text-text-primary"
+            >
+              <X size={11} />
+            </button>
+          </span>
+        ))}
+        <input
+          ref={inputRef}
+          className="h-6 min-w-[8ch] flex-1 border-none bg-transparent text-sm text-text-primary outline-none placeholder:text-text-muted"
+          value={query}
+          placeholder={value.length === 0 ? t("transactions.form.tagsPlaceholder") : ""}
+          onChange={(event) => {
+            setQuery(event.target.value);
+            setOpen(true);
+          }}
+          onFocus={() => setOpen(true)}
+          onBlur={() => setTimeout(() => setOpen(false), 100)}
+          onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+        />
+      </div>
+
+      {open && (suggestions.length > 0 || (trimmedQuery && !exactMatch)) && (
+        <ul className="absolute z-10 mt-1 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-border bg-surface-1 shadow-lg">
+          {suggestions.map((tag) => (
+            <li key={tag.id}>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onMouseDown={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
+                onClick={() => addTag(tag)}
+                className={cn("block w-full px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-sm text-text-primary hover:bg-surface-2")}
+              >
+                {tag.name}
+              </button>
+            </li>
+          ))}
+          {trimmedQuery && !exactMatch && (
+            <li>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onMouseDown={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
+                onClick={() => void commitQuery()}
+                className="block w-full px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-sm text-series-1 hover:bg-surface-2"
+              >
+                {t("transactions.form.createTag", { name: trimmedQuery })}
+              </button>
+            </li>
+          )}
+        </ul>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionFormModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionFormModal.tsx
index 60763a1..4b94a7f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionFormModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionFormModal.tsx
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { Dialog } from "@/components/ui/Dialog";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/Button";
 import { Input, Label, Select } from "@/components/ui/Input";
+import { TagInput } from "@/components/transactions/TagInput";
 import { useAccounts } from "@/hooks/useAccounts";
 import { useCategories } from "@/hooks/useCategories";
 import { useCreateTransaction, useUpdateTransaction } from "@/hooks/useTransactions";
 import { useTranslation } from "@/lib/i18n";
 import { translateCategoryName } from "@/lib/categoryLabels";
-import type { Category, Transaction, TransactionInput, TransactionType } from "@/types";
+import type { Category, Tag, Transaction, TransactionInput, TransactionType } from "@/types";
 
 interface TransactionFormModalProps {
   open: boolean;
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export function TransactionFormModal({ open, onClose, transaction }: Transaction
   const updateTransaction = useUpdateTransaction();
 
   const [form, setForm] = useState(EMPTY_FORM);
+  const [tags, setTags] = useState<Tag[]>([]);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -55,8 +57,10 @@ export function TransactionFormModal({ open, onClose, transaction }: Transaction
         notes: transaction.notes ?? "",
         date: transaction.date,
       });
+      setTags(transaction.tags);
     } else {
       setForm({ ...EMPTY_FORM, account_id: accounts?.[0] ? String(accounts[0].id) : "" });
+      setTags([]);
     }
     setError(null);
   }, [open, transaction, accounts]);
@@ -104,6 +108,7 @@ export function TransactionFormModal({ open, onClose, transaction }: Transaction
       merchant: form.merchant || null,
       notes: form.notes || null,
       date: form.date,
+      tag_ids: tags.map((tag) => tag.id),
     };
 
     try {
@@ -253,6 +258,11 @@ export function TransactionFormModal({ open, onClose, transaction }: Transaction
           />
         </div>
 
+        <div>
+          <Label htmlFor="transaction-tags">{t("transactions.form.tagsLabel")}</Label>
+          <TagInput value={tags} onChange={setTags} />
+        </div>
+
         {error && <p className="text-sm text-danger">{error}</p>}
 
         <div className="flex justify-end gap-2 pt-2">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionsTable.tsx b/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionsTable.tsx
index 8933efb..61c4153 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionsTable.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/transactions/TransactionsTable.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ export function TransactionsTable({ items, onEdit, onDelete, onJumpToMonth }: Tr
                   {formatTransactionDate(tx.date, Boolean(onJumpToMonth))} · {tx.account.name}
                   {isTransfer && tx.transfer_account_id ? ` ${t("transactions.transferSuffix")}` : ""}
                   {tx.category ? ` · ${translateCategoryName(tx.category.name)}` : ""}
+                  {tx.tags.length > 0 ? ` · ${tx.tags.map((tag) => tag.name).join(", ")}` : ""}
                 </span>
               </span>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useTags.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useTags.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfcac08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useTags.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { createTag, deleteTag, fetchTags } from "@/api/tags";
+
+export function useTags() {
+  return useQuery({ queryKey: ["tags"], queryFn: fetchTags });
+}
+
+export function useCreateTag() {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (name: string) => createTag(name),
+    onSuccess: () => queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["tags"] }),
+  });
+}
+
+export function useDeleteTag() {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (id: number) => deleteTag(id),
+    onSuccess: () => {
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["tags"] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["transactions"] });
+    },
+  });
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/i18n.ts b/frontend/src/lib/i18n.ts
index dcae74b..7557ffd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/i18n.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/i18n.ts
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ const ru = {
   "transactions.income": "Доходы",
   "transactions.transfer": "Переводы",
   "transactions.allCategories": "Все категории",
+  "transactions.allTags": "Все теги",
   "transactions.failedToLoad": "Не удалось загрузить транзакции.",
   "transactions.noneFound": "Транзакций не найдено.",
   "transactions.searchPlaceholder": "Поиск по описанию, продавцу или заметке…",
@@ -167,6 +168,10 @@ const ru = {
   "transactions.form.noCategory": "Без категории",
   "transactions.form.merchantLabel": "Продавец (необязательно)",
   "transactions.form.notesLabel": "Заметка (необязательно)",
+  "transactions.form.tagsLabel": "Теги (необязательно)",
+  "transactions.form.tagsPlaceholder": "Начните вводить, чтобы найти или создать тег…",
+  "transactions.form.removeTag": "Убрать тег «{{name}}»",
+  "transactions.form.createTag": "Создать тег «{{name}}»",
   "transactions.viewNote": "Посмотреть заметку",
   "transactions.noteDialogTitle": "Заметка",
   "transactions.form.errorSelectAccount": "Выберите счёт",
@@ -501,6 +506,7 @@ const en: Record<keyof typeof ru, string> = {
   "transactions.income": "Income",
   "transactions.transfer": "Transfers",
   "transactions.allCategories": "All categories",
+  "transactions.allTags": "All tags",
   "transactions.failedToLoad": "Failed to load transactions.",
   "transactions.noneFound": "No transactions found.",
   "transactions.searchPlaceholder": "Search by description, merchant, or note…",
@@ -530,6 +536,10 @@ const en: Record<keyof typeof ru, string> = {
   "transactions.form.noCategory": "No category",
   "transactions.form.merchantLabel": "Merchant (optional)",
   "transactions.form.notesLabel": "Note (optional)",
+  "transactions.form.tagsLabel": "Tags (optional)",
+  "transactions.form.tagsPlaceholder": "Type to find or create a tag…",
+  "transactions.form.removeTag": "Remove tag \"{{name}}\"",
+  "transactions.form.createTag": "Create tag \"{{name}}\"",
   "transactions.viewNote": "View note",
   "transactions.noteDialogTitle": "Note",
   "transactions.form.errorSelectAccount": "Select an account",
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/TransactionsPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/TransactionsPage.tsx
index 064b6ae..c56f21c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/TransactionsPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/TransactionsPage.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { TransactionsTable } from "@/components/transactions/TransactionsTable";
 import { TransactionFormModal } from "@/components/transactions/TransactionFormModal";
 import { useTransactions, useDeleteTransaction, useTransactionYears } from "@/hooks/useTransactions";
 import { useCategories } from "@/hooks/useCategories";
+import { useTags } from "@/hooks/useTags";
 import type { TransactionSort } from "@/api/transactions";
 import { useTranslation } from "@/lib/i18n";
 import { translateCategoryName } from "@/lib/categoryLabels";
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ export function TransactionsPage() {
   const [month, setMonth] = useState(() => parseMonthParam(searchParams.get("month"), now.getMonth() + 1));
   const [type, setType] = useState<TransactionType | "">("");
   const [categoryId, setCategoryId] = useState<string>("");
+  const [tagId, setTagId] = useState<string>("");
   const [sort, setSort] = useState<TransactionSort>("date_desc");
   const [page, setPage] = useState(1);
 
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ export function TransactionsPage() {
   const [editingTransaction, setEditingTransaction] = useState<Transaction | null>(null);
 
   const { data: categories } = useCategories();
+  const { data: tags } = useTags();
   const { data: years } = useTransactionYears();
   const { data, isLoading, isError } = useTransactions({
     // A search looks for a purchase from an unknown month, so it must span
@@ -73,6 +76,7 @@ export function TransactionsPage() {
     search: isSearching ? search : undefined,
     type: type || undefined,
     category_id: categoryId ? Number(categoryId) : undefined,
+    tag_id: tagId ? Number(tagId) : undefined,
     sort,
     page,
     page_size: PAGE_SIZE,
@@ -193,6 +197,23 @@ export function TransactionsPage() {
             </option>
           ))}
         </Select>
+        {tags && tags.length > 0 && (
+          <Select
+            value={tagId}
+            onChange={(event) => {
+              setTagId(event.target.value);
+              setPage(1);
+            }}
+            className="sm:w-48"
+          >
+            <option value="">{t("transactions.allTags")}</option>
+            {tags.map((tag) => (
+              <option key={tag.id} value={tag.id}>
+                {tag.name}
+              </option>
+            ))}
+          </Select>
+        )}
         <Select
           value={sort}
           onChange={(event) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/types/index.ts b/frontend/src/types/index.ts
index 6f76eb2..b1c548c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/types/index.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ export interface CategoryUpdateInput {
   parent_id?: number | null;
 }
 
+export interface Tag {
+  id: number;
+  name: string;
+}
+
 export interface Transaction {
   id: number;
   account_id: number;
@@ -70,6 +75,7 @@ export interface Transaction {
   date: string;
   account: Account;
   category: Category | null;
+  tags: Tag[];
 }
 
 export interface TransactionPage {
@@ -89,6 +95,9 @@ export interface TransactionInput {
   merchant?: string | null;
   notes?: string | null;
   date: string;
+  // Omitted -> tags untouched on update; sent (even as []) -> replaces the
+  // full tag set. Always sent on create (defaults to []).
+  tag_ids?: number[];
 }
 
 export interface RecurringTransaction {