diff --git a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/models/base.py b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/models/base.py
index 5fcdcb33..d23cb8a4 100644
--- a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/models/base.py
+++ b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/models/base.py
@@ -347,7 +347,6 @@ def add_tag(
         tag_value: str,
         parent_tag_id: int | None = None,
         external_id: str | None = None
-
     ) -> Tag:
         """
         Add new Tag to Taxonomy. If an existing Tag with the `tag_value` already
diff --git a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rest_api/v1/permissions.py b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rest_api/v1/permissions.py
index df2a7034..b63a6b7e 100644
--- a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rest_api/v1/permissions.py
+++ b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rest_api/v1/permissions.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 import rules  # type: ignore[import]
 from rest_framework.permissions import DjangoObjectPermissions
 
+from ...models import Tag
+
 
 class TaxonomyObjectPermissions(DjangoObjectPermissions):
     """
@@ -54,4 +56,5 @@ def has_object_permission(self, request, view, obj):
         """
         Returns True if the user on the given request is allowed the given view for the given object.
         """
+        obj = obj.taxonomy if isinstance(obj, Tag) else obj
         return rules.has_perm("oel_tagging.list_tag", request.user, obj)
diff --git a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rules.py b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rules.py
index bb22b2de..97ca56de 100644
--- a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rules.py
+++ b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/rules.py
@@ -57,11 +57,10 @@ def can_view_tag(user: UserType, tag: Tag | None = None) -> bool:
     User can view tags for any taxonomy they can view.
     """
     taxonomy = tag.taxonomy.cast() if (tag and tag.taxonomy) else None
-    has_perm_thing = user.has_perm(
+    return user.has_perm(
         "oel_tagging.view_taxonomy",
         taxonomy,
     )
-    return has_perm_thing
 
 
 @rules.predicate
diff --git a/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/test_rules.py b/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/test_rules.py
index f30cbd27..11cc2ced 100644
--- a/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/test_rules.py
+++ b/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/test_rules.py
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ def test_add_change_tag(self, perm):
     )
     def test_tag_free_text_taxonomy(self, perm):
         """
-        Taxonomy administrators cannot modify tags on a free-text Taxonomy
+        Taxonomy administrators can modify any Tag, even those associated with a free-text Taxonomy
         """
         self.taxonomy.allow_free_text = True
         self.taxonomy.save()
         assert self.superuser.has_perm(perm, self.bacteria)
-        assert not self.staff.has_perm(perm, self.bacteria)
+        assert self.staff.has_perm(perm, self.bacteria)
         assert not self.learner.has_perm(perm, self.bacteria)
 
     @ddt.data(