diff --git a/lua/gopher/config.lua b/lua/gopher/config.lua
index 94dbab9..f86d49c 100644
--- a/lua/gopher/config.lua
+++ b/lua/gopher/config.lua
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ local default_config = {
   gotag = {
     ---@type gopher.ConfigGoTagTransform
     transform = "snakecase",
+
+    -- default tags to add to struct fields
+    default_tag = "json",
   },
 }
 --minidoc_afterlines_end
diff --git a/lua/gopher/struct_tags.lua b/lua/gopher/struct_tags.lua
index 17e0d78..4207dae 100644
--- a/lua/gopher/struct_tags.lua
+++ b/lua/gopher/struct_tags.lua
@@ -55,11 +55,6 @@ local function modify(...)
     table.insert(cmd_args, v)
   end
 
-  -- set default tag for "clear tags"
-  if #arg == 1 and arg[1] ~= "-clear-tags" then
-    table.insert(cmd_args, "json")
-  end
-
   local rs = r.sync {
     c.commands.gomodifytags,
     "-transform",
@@ -101,7 +96,7 @@ end
 function struct_tags.add(...)
   local arg = { ... }
   if #arg == nil or arg == "" then
-    arg = { "json" }
+    arg = { c.gotag.default_tag }
   end
 
   local cmd_args = { "-add-tags" }
@@ -116,7 +111,7 @@ end
 function struct_tags.remove(...)
   local arg = { ... }
   if #arg == nil or arg == "" then
-    arg = { "json" }
+    arg = { c.gotag.default_tag }
   end
 
   local cmd_args = { "-remove-tags" }