TAG reopens all five grading tiers
After pausing tiers in May, TAG lists Base through Premier as available as of September 30, with its backlog reported down 96%.
By Jamie Budesky · Published September 30, 2026
In short
TAG lists all five service tiers, Base through Premier, as available as of September 30, 2026. Tiers had been paused since May, and Cardboard Journal reports TAG’s backlog was down 96% with catch-up expected in October. TAG can still pause tiers again, so do not wait on a deadline that depends on it.
What reopened
TAG’s help article on services lists five grading services as currently available as of September 30, 2026: Base, Standard, Priority, Express and Premier. Cardboard Journal’s TAG scorecard, with pricing checked on 30 September, says TAG reopened all five tiers that day after its backlog pause.
| Tier | Price per card | Estimated turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $39.95 (5-card minimum)* | About 60 business days |
| Standard | $59.95 | 45 business days |
| Priority | $79.95 | 30 business days |
| Express | $149.95 | 10 business days |
| Premier | $299.95 | 3–5 business days |
*TAG’s help article lists Base without a price; the $39.95 figure and the 5-card minimum come from Cardboard Journal. For coverage limits, what each tier includes and how the cost adds up, see our TAG grading cost page. This post covers the reopening, not the full price breakdown.
How we got here
According to Cardboard Journal, TAG paused Basic and Standard on 1 May and Express on 28 May, with its backlog peaking at about 420% of monthly capacity. TAG’s record month came in August, when GemRate counted 58,000 TAG grades; see our August volume recap.
By 30 September, Cardboard Journal reports, TAG said its backlog was down 96%, with full catch-up estimated for October. Before the May pause, the cheapest TAG grade was $22, per the same scorecard.
How it stacks up against PSA right now
TAG’s Standard ($59.95) and Priority ($79.95) sit four cents under PSA’s Standard ($59.99) and Priority ($79.99), which PSA announced on September 9. The estimated turnarounds differ more: PSA quotes 90 to 100 business days for Standard and 70 to 80 for Priority, against TAG’s 45 and 30.
- Rule: treat any turnaround as an estimate until the grader has worked through its queue. TAG is only just reopening after a five-month pause.
- Watch for another pause. Cardboard Journal notes TAG may limit or pause tiers again if demand outruns capacity.
- Pick the grader for the slab you want, not the four cents. Our SGC vs PSA Standard comparison walks through that choice.
Pre-screen before the next TAG drop
With all five tiers open, choose which cards deserve a slot. CardGrade gives you a photo-based pre-screen of visible condition so you can decide which cards are worth the fee. It is not an official grade, authentication or appraisal, and CardGrade is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC or TAG. Try a pre-screen
What we could not confirm
- The Base price on TAG’s own pages. The help article we read omits it, and TAG’s pricing page did not load for us.
- Whether TAG will hold every tier open through October, or how it will ration demand if it does not.
- The exact backlog figures. The 96% and 420% numbers come to us through Cardboard Journal.
Sources
- TAG Help Center: currently available grading services (as of September 30, 2026)
- Cardboard Journal: TAG scorecard (pricing checked September 30, 2026)
- PSA: service level announcement (September 9, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Is TAG accepting submissions again?
Yes. TAG’s help center lists Base, Standard, Priority, Express and Premier as currently available as of September 30, 2026.
When did TAG pause submissions in 2026?
Cardboard Journal reports TAG paused Basic and Standard on May 1 and Express on May 28, 2026, as its backlog peaked at about 420% of monthly capacity.
Will TAG pause grading tiers again?
It may. Cardboard Journal notes TAG may limit or pause tiers again if demand exceeds capacity.
Is TAG Standard cheaper than PSA Standard?
By four cents. TAG Standard is $59.95 with a 45 business day estimate; PSA Standard is $59.99 with a 90 to 100 business day estimate, per PSA’s September 9 announcement.
Where can I see the full TAG price list?
Our TAG grading cost page at cardgrade.io/tag-card-grading-cost lists each tier with coverage limits and what is included.