diff --git a/backend/azure/azure.go b/backend/azure/azure.go
index c8a77813..e64ebd35 100644
--- a/backend/azure/azure.go
+++ b/backend/azure/azure.go
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ func (az *Azure) DeleteBucketOwnershipControls(ctx context.Context, bucket strin
 }
 
 func (az *Azure) PutObject(ctx context.Context, po s3response.PutObjectInput) (s3response.PutObjectOutput, error) {
-	tags, err := parseTags(po.Tagging)
+	tags, err := backend.ParseObjectTags(getString(po.Tagging))
 	if err != nil {
 		return s3response.PutObjectOutput{}, err
 	}
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ func (az *Azure) CopyObject(ctx context.Context, input s3response.CopyObjectInpu
 
 		// Set object Tagging, if tagging directive is "REPLACE"
 		if input.TaggingDirective == types.TaggingDirectiveReplace {
-			tags, err := parseTags(input.Tagging)
+			tags, err := backend.ParseObjectTags(getString(input.Tagging))
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -1034,20 +1034,9 @@ func (az *Azure) CreateMultipartUpload(ctx context.Context, input s3response.Cre
 	}
 
 	// parse object tags
-	tagsStr := getString(input.Tagging)
-	tags := map[string]string{}
-	if tagsStr != "" {
-		tagParts := strings.Split(tagsStr, "&")
-		for _, prt := range tagParts {
-			p := strings.Split(prt, "=")
-			if len(p) != 2 {
-				return s3response.InitiateMultipartUploadResult{}, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)
-			}
-			if len(p[0]) > 128 || len(p[1]) > 256 {
-				return s3response.InitiateMultipartUploadResult{}, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)
-			}
-			tags[p[0]] = p[1]
-		}
+	tags, err := backend.ParseObjectTags(getString(input.Tagging))
+	if err != nil {
+		return s3response.InitiateMultipartUploadResult{}, err
 	}
 
 	// set blob legal hold status in metadata
@@ -1087,7 +1076,7 @@ func (az *Azure) CreateMultipartUpload(ctx context.Context, input s3response.Cre
 	// Create and empty blob in .sgwtmp/multipart/<uploadId>/<object hash>
 	// The blob indicates multipart upload initialization and holds the mp metadata
 	// e.g tagging, content-type, metadata, object lock status ...
-	_, err := az.client.UploadBuffer(ctx, *input.Bucket, tmpPath, []byte{}, opts)
+	_, err = az.client.UploadBuffer(ctx, *input.Bucket, tmpPath, []byte{}, opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		return s3response.InitiateMultipartUploadResult{}, azureErrToS3Err(err)
 	}
@@ -1818,24 +1807,6 @@ func parseAzMetadata(m map[string]*string) map[string]string {
 	return meta
 }
 
-func parseTags(tagstr *string) (map[string]string, error) {
-	tagsStr := getString(tagstr)
-	tags := make(map[string]string)
-
-	if tagsStr != "" {
-		tagParts := strings.Split(tagsStr, "&")
-		for _, prt := range tagParts {
-			p := strings.Split(prt, "=")
-			if len(p) != 2 {
-				return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)
-			}
-			tags[p[0]] = p[1]
-		}
-	}
-
-	return tags, nil
-}
-
 func parseAzTags(tagSet []*blob.Tags) map[string]string {
 	tags := map[string]string{}
 	for _, tag := range tagSet {
diff --git a/backend/common.go b/backend/common.go
index 36f4fc75..741bb480 100644
--- a/backend/common.go
+++ b/backend/common.go
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/fs"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
+	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
@@ -215,27 +217,81 @@ func ParseCopySource(copySourceHeader string) (string, string, string, error) {
 }
 
 // ParseObjectTags parses the url encoded input string into
-// map[string]string key-value tag set
-func ParseObjectTags(t string) (map[string]string, error) {
-	if t == "" {
+// map[string]string with unescaped key/value pair
+func ParseObjectTags(tagging string) (map[string]string, error) {
+	if tagging == "" {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
-	tagging := make(map[string]string)
+	tagSet := make(map[string]string)
 
-	tagParts := strings.Split(t, "&")
-	for _, prt := range tagParts {
-		p := strings.Split(prt, "=")
-		if len(p) != 2 {
+	for tagging != "" {
+		var tag string
+		tag, tagging, _ = strings.Cut(tagging, "&")
+		// if 'tag' before the first appearance of '&' is empty continue
+		if tag == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		key, value, found := strings.Cut(tag, "=")
+		// if key is empty, but "=" is present, return invalid url ecnoding err
+		if found && key == "" {
+			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)
+		}
+
+		// return invalid tag key, if the key is longer than 128
+		if len(key) > 128 {
+			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)
+		}
+
+		// return invalid tag value, if tag value is longer than 256
+		if len(value) > 256 {
 			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)
 		}
-		if len(p[0]) > 128 || len(p[1]) > 256 {
+
+		// query unescape tag key
+		key, err := url.QueryUnescape(key)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)
+		}
+
+		// query unescape tag value
+		value, err = url.QueryUnescape(value)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)
+		}
+
+		// check tag key to be valid
+		if !isValidTagComponent(key) {
+			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)
+		}
+
+		// check tag value to be valid
+		if !isValidTagComponent(value) {
 			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)
 		}
-		tagging[p[0]] = p[1]
+
+		// duplicate keys are not allowed: return invalid url encoding err
+		_, ok := tagSet[key]
+		if ok {
+			return nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)
+		}
+
+		tagSet[key] = value
 	}
 
-	return tagging, nil
+	return tagSet, nil
+}
+
+var validTagComponent = regexp.MustCompile(`^[a-zA-Z0-9:/_.\-+ ]+$`)
+
+// isValidTagComponent matches strings which contain letters, decimal digits,
+// and special chars: '/', '_', '-', '+', '.', ' ' (space)
+func isValidTagComponent(str string) bool {
+	if str == "" {
+		return true
+	}
+	return validTagComponent.Match([]byte(str))
 }
 
 func GetMultipartMD5(parts []types.CompletedPart) string {
diff --git a/s3err/s3err.go b/s3err/s3err.go
index a8952856..2d646058 100644
--- a/s3err/s3err.go
+++ b/s3err/s3err.go
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ const (
 	ErrDuplicateTagKey
 	ErrBucketTaggingLimited
 	ErrObjectTaggingLimited
+	ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging
 	ErrAuthHeaderEmpty
 	ErrSignatureVersionNotSupported
 	ErrMalformedPOSTRequest
@@ -335,6 +336,11 @@ var errorCodeResponse = map[ErrorCode]APIError{
 		Description:    "Object tags cannot be greater than 10",
 		HTTPStatusCode: http.StatusBadRequest,
 	},
+	ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging: {
+		Code:           "InvalidArgument",
+		Description:    "The header 'x-amz-tagging' shall be encoded as UTF-8 then URLEncoded URL query parameters without tag name duplicates.",
+		HTTPStatusCode: http.StatusBadRequest,
+	},
 	ErrMalformedXML: {
 		Code:           "MalformedXML",
 		Description:    "The XML you provided was not well-formed or did not validate against our published schema.",
diff --git a/tests/integration/group-tests.go b/tests/integration/group-tests.go
index 93af5711..73888b15 100644
--- a/tests/integration/group-tests.go
+++ b/tests/integration/group-tests.go
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func TestDeleteBucketTagging(s *S3Conf) {
 func TestPutObject(s *S3Conf) {
 	PutObject_non_existing_bucket(s)
 	PutObject_special_chars(s)
-	PutObject_invalid_long_tags(s)
+	PutObject_tagging(s)
 	PutObject_missing_object_lock_retention_config(s)
 	PutObject_with_object_lock(s)
 	PutObject_invalid_legal_hold(s)
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ func TestCopyObject(s *S3Conf) {
 	CopyObject_not_owned_source_bucket(s)
 	CopyObject_copy_to_itself(s)
 	CopyObject_copy_to_itself_invalid_directive(s)
+	CopyObject_should_replace_tagging(s)
 	CopyObject_should_copy_tagging(s)
 	CopyObject_invalid_tagging_directive(s)
 	CopyObject_to_itself_with_new_metadata(s)
@@ -320,7 +321,6 @@ func TestDeleteObjectTagging(s *S3Conf) {
 func TestCreateMultipartUpload(s *S3Conf) {
 	CreateMultipartUpload_non_existing_bucket(s)
 	CreateMultipartUpload_with_metadata(s)
-	CreateMultipartUpload_with_invalid_tagging(s)
 	CreateMultipartUpload_with_tagging(s)
 	CreateMultipartUpload_with_object_lock(s)
 	CreateMultipartUpload_with_object_lock_not_enabled(s)
@@ -866,7 +866,7 @@ func GetIntTests() IntTests {
 		"DeleteBucketTagging_success":                                             DeleteBucketTagging_success,
 		"PutObject_non_existing_bucket":                                           PutObject_non_existing_bucket,
 		"PutObject_special_chars":                                                 PutObject_special_chars,
-		"PutObject_invalid_long_tags":                                             PutObject_invalid_long_tags,
+		"PutObject_tagging":                                                       PutObject_tagging,
 		"PutObject_success":                                                       PutObject_success,
 		"PutObject_racey_success":                                                 PutObject_racey_success,
 		"HeadObject_non_existing_object":                                          HeadObject_non_existing_object,
@@ -943,6 +943,7 @@ func GetIntTests() IntTests {
 		"CopyObject_not_owned_source_bucket":                                      CopyObject_not_owned_source_bucket,
 		"CopyObject_copy_to_itself":                                               CopyObject_copy_to_itself,
 		"CopyObject_copy_to_itself_invalid_directive":                             CopyObject_copy_to_itself_invalid_directive,
+		"CopyObject_should_replace_tagging":                                       CopyObject_should_replace_tagging,
 		"CopyObject_should_copy_tagging":                                          CopyObject_should_copy_tagging,
 		"CopyObject_invalid_tagging_directive":                                    CopyObject_invalid_tagging_directive,
 		"CopyObject_to_itself_with_new_metadata":                                  CopyObject_to_itself_with_new_metadata,
@@ -974,7 +975,6 @@ func GetIntTests() IntTests {
 		"DeleteObjectTagging_success":                                             DeleteObjectTagging_success,
 		"CreateMultipartUpload_non_existing_bucket":                               CreateMultipartUpload_non_existing_bucket,
 		"CreateMultipartUpload_with_metadata":                                     CreateMultipartUpload_with_metadata,
-		"CreateMultipartUpload_with_invalid_tagging":                              CreateMultipartUpload_with_invalid_tagging,
 		"CreateMultipartUpload_with_tagging":                                      CreateMultipartUpload_with_tagging,
 		"CreateMultipartUpload_with_object_lock":                                  CreateMultipartUpload_with_object_lock,
 		"CreateMultipartUpload_with_object_lock_not_enabled":                      CreateMultipartUpload_with_object_lock_not_enabled,
diff --git a/tests/integration/tests.go b/tests/integration/tests.go
index 914fda88..4004c70a 100644
--- a/tests/integration/tests.go
+++ b/tests/integration/tests.go
@@ -2825,37 +2825,111 @@ func PutObject_special_chars(s *S3Conf) error {
 	})
 }
 
-func PutObject_invalid_long_tags(s *S3Conf) error {
-	testName := "PutObject_invalid_long_tags"
+func PutObject_tagging(s *S3Conf) error {
+	testName := "PutObject_tagging"
 	return actionHandler(s, testName, func(s3client *s3.Client, bucket string) error {
-		key := "my-obj"
-		tagging := fmt.Sprintf("%v=val", genRandString(200))
+		obj := "my-obj"
+		testTagging := func(taggging string, result map[string]string, expectedErr error) error {
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
 
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		_, err := s3client.PutObject(ctx, &s3.PutObjectInput{
-			Bucket:  &bucket,
-			Key:     &key,
-			Tagging: &tagging,
-		})
-		cancel()
-		if err := checkApiErr(err, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)); err != nil {
-			return err
+			_, err := s3client.PutObject(ctx, &s3.PutObjectInput{
+				Bucket:  &bucket,
+				Key:     &obj,
+				Tagging: &taggging,
+			})
+			cancel()
+			if err == nil && expectedErr != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("expected err %w, instead got nil", expectedErr)
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				if expectedErr == nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				switch eErr := expectedErr.(type) {
+				case s3err.APIError:
+					return checkApiErr(err, eErr)
+				default:
+					return fmt.Errorf("invalid err provided: %w", expectedErr)
+				}
+			}
+
+			ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+			res, err := s3client.GetObjectTagging(ctx, &s3.GetObjectTaggingInput{
+				Bucket: &bucket,
+				Key:    &obj,
+			})
+			cancel()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if len(res.TagSet) != len(result) {
+				return fmt.Errorf("tag lengths are not equal: (expected): %v, (got): %v", len(result), len(res.TagSet))
+			}
+
+			for _, tag := range res.TagSet {
+				val, ok := result[getString(tag.Key)]
+				if !ok {
+					return fmt.Errorf("tag key not found: %v", getString(tag.Key))
+				}
+
+				if val != getString(tag.Value) {
+					return fmt.Errorf("expected the %v tag value to be %v, instead got %v", getString(tag.Key), val, getString(tag.Value))
+				}
+			}
+
+			return nil
 		}
 
-		tagging = fmt.Sprintf("key=%v", genRandString(300))
-
-		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		_, err = s3client.PutObject(ctx, &s3.PutObjectInput{
-			Bucket:  &bucket,
-			Key:     &key,
-			Tagging: &tagging,
-		})
-		cancel()
-
-		if err := checkApiErr(err, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)); err != nil {
-			return err
+		for _, el := range []struct {
+			tagging     string
+			result      map[string]string
+			expectedErr error
+		}{
+			// success cases
+			{"&", map[string]string{}, nil},
+			{"&&&", map[string]string{}, nil},
+			{"key", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key&", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key=&", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key=val&", map[string]string{"key": "val"}, nil},
+			{"key1&key2", map[string]string{"key1": "", "key2": ""}, nil},
+			{"key1=val1&key2=val2", map[string]string{"key1": "val1", "key2": "val2"}, nil},
+			// invalid url-encoded
+			{"=", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			{"key%", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			// duplicate keys
+			{"key=val&key=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			// invalid tag keys
+			{"key?=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key(=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key*=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key$=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key#=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key@=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key!=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			// invalid tag values
+			{"key=val?", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val(", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val*", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val$", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val#", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val@", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val!", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			// success special chars
+			{"key-key_key.key/key=value-value_value.value/value", map[string]string{"key-key_key.key/key": "value-value_value.value/value"}, nil},
+			// should handle supported encoded characters
+			{"key%2E=value%2F", map[string]string{"key.": "value/"}, nil},
+			{"key%2D=value%2B", map[string]string{"key-": "value+"}, nil},
+			{"key++key=value++value", map[string]string{"key  key": "value  value"}, nil},
+			{"key%20key=value%20value", map[string]string{"key key": "value value"}, nil},
+			{"key%5Fkey=value%5Fvalue", map[string]string{"key_key": "value_value"}, nil},
+		} {
+			err := testTagging(el.tagging, el.result, el.expectedErr)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
-
 		return nil
 	})
 }
@@ -6201,55 +6275,121 @@ func CopyObject_should_copy_tagging(s *S3Conf) error {
 	})
 }
 
-func CopyObject_should_reaplace_tagging(s *S3Conf) error {
-	testName := "CopyObject_should_reaplace_tagging"
+func CopyObject_should_replace_tagging(s *S3Conf) error {
+	testName := "CopyObject_should_replace_tagging"
 	return actionHandler(s, testName, func(s3client *s3.Client, bucket string) error {
-		srcObj, dstObj := "source-object", "dest-object"
-		tagging := "foo=bar&baz=quxx"
-
-		_, err := putObjectWithData(100, &s3.PutObjectInput{
+		obj := "my-obj"
+		_, err := putObjectWithData(10, &s3.PutObjectInput{
 			Bucket:  &bucket,
-			Key:     &srcObj,
-			Tagging: &tagging,
+			Key:     &obj,
+			Tagging: getPtr("key=value&key1=value1"),
 		}, s3client)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		testTagging := func(taggging string, result map[string]string, expectedErr error) error {
+			dstObj := "destination-object"
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+			_, err := s3client.CopyObject(ctx, &s3.CopyObjectInput{
+				Bucket:           &bucket,
+				Key:              &dstObj,
+				Tagging:          &taggging,
+				CopySource:       getPtr(fmt.Sprintf("%v/%v", bucket, obj)),
+				TaggingDirective: types.TaggingDirectiveReplace,
+			})
+			cancel()
+			if err == nil && expectedErr != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("expected err %w, instead got nil", expectedErr)
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				if expectedErr == nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				switch eErr := expectedErr.(type) {
+				case s3err.APIError:
+					return checkApiErr(err, eErr)
+				default:
+					return fmt.Errorf("invalid err provided: %w", expectedErr)
+				}
+			}
 
-		copyTagging := "key1=val1&key2=val2"
+			ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+			res, err := s3client.GetObjectTagging(ctx, &s3.GetObjectTaggingInput{
+				Bucket: &bucket,
+				Key:    &dstObj,
+			})
+			cancel()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		_, err = s3client.CopyObject(ctx, &s3.CopyObjectInput{
-			Bucket:           &bucket,
-			Key:              &dstObj,
-			CopySource:       getPtr(fmt.Sprintf("%v/%v", bucket, srcObj)),
-			TaggingDirective: types.TaggingDirectiveReplace,
-			Tagging:          &copyTagging,
-		})
-		cancel()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			if len(res.TagSet) != len(result) {
+				return fmt.Errorf("tag lengths are not equal: (expected): %v, (got): %v", len(result), len(res.TagSet))
+			}
+
+			for _, tag := range res.TagSet {
+				val, ok := result[getString(tag.Key)]
+				if !ok {
+					return fmt.Errorf("tag key not found: %v", getString(tag.Key))
+				}
+
+				if val != getString(tag.Value) {
+					return fmt.Errorf("expected the %v tag value to be %v, instead got %v", getString(tag.Key), val, getString(tag.Value))
+				}
+			}
+
+			return nil
 		}
 
-		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		res, err := s3client.GetObjectTagging(ctx, &s3.GetObjectTaggingInput{
-			Bucket: &bucket,
-			Key:    &dstObj,
-		})
-		cancel()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+		for _, el := range []struct {
+			tagging     string
+			result      map[string]string
+			expectedErr error
+		}{
+			// success cases
+			{"&", map[string]string{}, nil},
+			{"&&&", map[string]string{}, nil},
+			{"key", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key&", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key=&", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key=val&", map[string]string{"key": "val"}, nil},
+			{"key1&key2", map[string]string{"key1": "", "key2": ""}, nil},
+			{"key1=val1&key2=val2", map[string]string{"key1": "val1", "key2": "val2"}, nil},
+			// invalid url-encoded
+			{"=", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			{"key%", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			// duplicate keys
+			{"key=val&key=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			// invalid tag keys
+			{"key?=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key(=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key*=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key$=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key#=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key@=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key!=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			// invalid tag values
+			{"key=val?", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val(", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val*", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val$", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val#", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val@", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val!", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			// success special chars
+			{"key-key_key.key/key=value-value_value.value/value", map[string]string{"key-key_key.key/key": "value-value_value.value/value"}, nil},
+			// should handle supported encoded characters
+			{"key%2E=value%2F", map[string]string{"key.": "value/"}, nil},
+			{"key%2D=value%2B", map[string]string{"key-": "value+"}, nil},
+			{"key++key=value++value", map[string]string{"key  key": "value  value"}, nil},
+			{"key%20key=value%20value", map[string]string{"key key": "value value"}, nil},
+			{"key%5Fkey=value%5Fvalue", map[string]string{"key_key": "value_value"}, nil},
+		} {
+			err := testTagging(el.tagging, el.result, el.expectedErr)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
-
-		expectedTagSet := []types.Tag{
-			{Key: getPtr("key1"), Value: getPtr("val1")},
-			{Key: getPtr("key2"), Value: getPtr("val2")},
-		}
-
-		if !areTagsSame(res.TagSet, expectedTagSet) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("expected the tag set to be %v, instead got %v", expectedTagSet, res.TagSet)
-		}
-
 		return nil
 	})
 }
@@ -7676,93 +7816,138 @@ func CreateMultipartUpload_valid_checksum_algorithm(s *S3Conf) error {
 	})
 }
 
-func CreateMultipartUpload_with_invalid_tagging(s *S3Conf) error {
-	testName := "CreateMultipartUpload_with_invalid_tagging"
-	return actionHandler(s, testName, func(s3client *s3.Client, bucket string) error {
-		obj := "my-obj"
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		_, err := s3client.CreateMultipartUpload(ctx, &s3.CreateMultipartUploadInput{
-			Bucket:  &bucket,
-			Key:     &obj,
-			Tagging: getPtr("invalid_tag"),
-		})
-		cancel()
-		if err := checkApiErr(err, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		return nil
-	})
-}
-
 func CreateMultipartUpload_with_tagging(s *S3Conf) error {
 	testName := "CreateMultipartUpload_with_tagging"
 	return actionHandler(s, testName, func(s3client *s3.Client, bucket string) error {
 		obj := "my-obj"
-		tagging := "key1=val1&key2=val2"
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		out, err := s3client.CreateMultipartUpload(ctx, &s3.CreateMultipartUploadInput{
-			Bucket:  &bucket,
-			Key:     &obj,
-			Tagging: &tagging,
-		})
-		cancel()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		parts, _, err := uploadParts(s3client, 100, 1, bucket, obj, *out.UploadId)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		compParts := []types.CompletedPart{}
-		for _, el := range parts {
-			compParts = append(compParts, types.CompletedPart{
-				ETag:       el.ETag,
-				PartNumber: el.PartNumber,
+		testTagging := func(tagging string, result map[string]string, expectedErr error) error {
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+			mp, err := s3client.CreateMultipartUpload(ctx, &s3.CreateMultipartUploadInput{
+				Bucket:  &bucket,
+				Key:     &obj,
+				Tagging: &tagging,
 			})
+			cancel()
+			if err == nil && expectedErr != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("expected err %w, instead got nil", expectedErr)
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				if expectedErr == nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				switch eErr := expectedErr.(type) {
+				case s3err.APIError:
+					return checkApiErr(err, eErr)
+				default:
+					return fmt.Errorf("invalid err provided: %w", expectedErr)
+				}
+			}
+
+			parts, _, err := uploadParts(s3client, 5*1024*1024, 1, bucket, obj, *mp.UploadId)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			cParts := []types.CompletedPart{
+				{
+					ETag:          parts[0].ETag,
+					PartNumber:    parts[0].PartNumber,
+					ChecksumCRC32: parts[0].ChecksumCRC32,
+				},
+			}
+
+			ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+			_, err = s3client.CompleteMultipartUpload(ctx, &s3.CompleteMultipartUploadInput{
+				Bucket:   &bucket,
+				Key:      &obj,
+				UploadId: mp.UploadId,
+				MultipartUpload: &types.CompletedMultipartUpload{
+					Parts: cParts,
+				},
+			})
+			cancel()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
+			res, err := s3client.GetObjectTagging(ctx, &s3.GetObjectTaggingInput{
+				Bucket: &bucket,
+				Key:    &obj,
+			})
+			cancel()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if len(res.TagSet) != len(result) {
+				return fmt.Errorf("tag lengths are not equal: (expected): %v, (got): %v", len(result), len(res.TagSet))
+			}
+
+			for _, tag := range res.TagSet {
+				val, ok := result[getString(tag.Key)]
+				if !ok {
+					return fmt.Errorf("tag key not found: %v", getString(tag.Key))
+				}
+
+				if val != getString(tag.Value) {
+					return fmt.Errorf("expected the %v tag value to be %v, instead got %v", getString(tag.Key), val, getString(tag.Value))
+				}
+			}
+
+			return nil
 		}
 
-		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		_, err = s3client.CompleteMultipartUpload(ctx, &s3.CompleteMultipartUploadInput{
-			Bucket:   &bucket,
-			Key:      &obj,
-			UploadId: out.UploadId,
-			MultipartUpload: &types.CompletedMultipartUpload{
-				Parts: compParts,
-			},
-		})
-		cancel()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
+		for _, el := range []struct {
+			tagging     string
+			result      map[string]string
+			expectedErr error
+		}{
+			// success cases
+			{"&", map[string]string{}, nil},
+			{"&&&", map[string]string{}, nil},
+			{"key", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key&", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key=&", map[string]string{"key": ""}, nil},
+			{"key=val&", map[string]string{"key": "val"}, nil},
+			{"key1&key2", map[string]string{"key1": "", "key2": ""}, nil},
+			{"key1=val1&key2=val2", map[string]string{"key1": "val1", "key2": "val2"}, nil},
+			// invalid url-encoded
+			{"=", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			{"key%", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			// duplicate keys
+			{"key=val&key=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidURLEncodedTagging)},
+			// invalid tag keys
+			{"key?=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key(=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key*=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key$=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key#=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key@=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			{"key!=val", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagKey)},
+			// invalid tag values
+			{"key=val?", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val(", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val*", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val$", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val#", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val@", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			{"key=val!", nil, s3err.GetAPIError(s3err.ErrInvalidTagValue)},
+			// success special chars
+			{"key-key_key.key/key=value-value_value.value/value", map[string]string{"key-key_key.key/key": "value-value_value.value/value"}, nil},
+			// should handle supported encoded characters
+			{"key%2E=value%2F", map[string]string{"key.": "value/"}, nil},
+			{"key%2D=value%2B", map[string]string{"key-": "value+"}, nil},
+			{"key++key=value++value", map[string]string{"key  key": "value  value"}, nil},
+			{"key%20key=value%20value", map[string]string{"key key": "value value"}, nil},
+			{"key%5Fkey=value%5Fvalue", map[string]string{"key_key": "value_value"}, nil},
+		} {
+			err := testTagging(el.tagging, el.result, el.expectedErr)
+			if err != nil {
+				fmt.Println("failing for: ", el.tagging)
+				return err
+			}
 		}
-
-		ctx, cancel = context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), shortTimeout)
-		resp, err := s3client.GetObjectTagging(ctx, &s3.GetObjectTaggingInput{
-			Bucket: &bucket,
-			Key:    &obj,
-		})
-		cancel()
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		expectedOutput := []types.Tag{
-			{
-				Key:   getPtr("key1"),
-				Value: getPtr("val1"),
-			},
-			{
-				Key:   getPtr("key2"),
-				Value: getPtr("val2"),
-			},
-		}
-
-		if !areTagsSame(resp.TagSet, expectedOutput) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("expected object tagging to be %v, instead got %v", expectedOutput, resp.TagSet)
-		}
-
 		return nil
 	})
 }