diff --git a/services/ChallengeService.js b/services/ChallengeService.js
index 93fca2e..649f0c8 100644
--- a/services/ChallengeService.js
+++ b/services/ChallengeService.js
@@ -20,13 +20,15 @@ const dbHelper = require('../utils/db-helper');
  * @param {Object} event the event
  */
 async function handleChallengeTagsUpdate(event) {
-  const tags = event.data.tags.map((tag) => tag.name);
+  const tags = event.data.tags;
   await Promise.all(
     event.data.challengeUUIDsList.map(async (challengeUUIDs) => {
       if (_.isString(challengeUUIDs)) { // repoUrl
         challengeUUIDs = await dbHelper.queryChallengeUUIDsByRepoUrl(challengeUUIDs);
       }
-      return challengeUUIDs.map(async (challengeUUID) => await topcoderApiHelper.updateChallenge(challengeUUID, {tags}));
+      return challengeUUIDs.map(
+        async (challengeUUID) => await topcoderApiHelper.applySkillsSetToChallenge(challengeUUID, tags)
+      );
     }).reduce((a, b) => _.concat(a, b), [])
   ).then((resps) => {
     logger.debug(`handleChallengeTagsUpdate updated ${_.size(resps)} challenges successfully.`);
diff --git a/services/CopilotPaymentService.js b/services/CopilotPaymentService.js
index 944d50e..df152a6 100644
--- a/services/CopilotPaymentService.js
+++ b/services/CopilotPaymentService.js
@@ -194,7 +194,6 @@ async function handlePaymentAdd(event, payment) {
       const newChallenge = {
         name: challengeTitle,
         projectId: project.tcDirectId,
-        tags: project.tags ? project.tags.map((tag) => tag.name) : [],
         detailedRequirements: challengeRequirements,
         prizes: [payment.amount],
         reviewType: 'INTERNAL'
diff --git a/services/IssueService.js b/services/IssueService.js
index 4986cc6..f7070a6 100755
--- a/services/IssueService.js
+++ b/services/IssueService.js
@@ -635,7 +635,6 @@ async function handleIssueCreate(event, issue, forceAssign = false) {
     issue.challengeUUID = await topcoderApiHelper.createChallenge({
       name: issue.title,
       projectId,
-      tags: project.tags ? project.tags.map((tag) => tag.name) : [],
       detailedRequirements: issue.body,
       prizes: issue.prizes
     });
diff --git a/utils/topcoder-api-helper.js b/utils/topcoder-api-helper.js
index 5d1484e..408d562 100644
--- a/utils/topcoder-api-helper.js
+++ b/utils/topcoder-api-helper.js
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ async function createChallenge(challenge) {
     }],
     timelineTemplateId: config.DEFAULT_TIMELINE_TEMPLATE_ID,
     projectId: challenge.projectId,
-    tags: challenge.tags,
+    tags: [],
     trackId: config.DEFAULT_TRACK_ID,
     legacy: {
       pureV5Task: true
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ async function applySkillsSetToChallenge(challengeId, tags) {
     logger.debug(`Skills set applied successfully to the challenge ${challengeId}`);
     return response.data;
   } catch (err) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
     loggerFile.info(`EndPoint: POST /standardized-skills/challenge-skills/${challengeId},  POST parameters: ${circularJSON.stringify(payload)}, Status Code:null,
     Error: 'Failed to apply skills set to the challenge.', Details: ${circularJSON.stringify(err)}`);
     logger.error(`Response Data: ${JSON.stringify(err.response.data)}`);