diff --git a/backend/app/utils/tag_prefix.py b/backend/app/utils/tag_prefix.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67ad90b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/utils/tag_prefix.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+"""Parse the user-facing `kind:name` shortcut used by the add-tag input.
+
+Mirrors IR's app/utils/tag_prefix.py. Tag.name in FC is stored bare;
+the `kind:` prefix only exists as an input convention at user-facing
+places (image-modal add-tag input, future bulk-add forms). The parser
+is the single owner of the kind-string list — anything not in
+KNOWN_KINDS keeps its colon as literal text.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+# Kinds the user can type as a prefix at the input boundary.
+# `general` is intentionally excluded — it's the default for un-prefixed
+# input. `archive` and `post` are system-managed and never user-typed.
+KNOWN_KINDS: frozenset[str] = frozenset({
+    "artist",
+    "character",
+    "fandom",
+    "series",
+    "meta",
+    "rating",
+})
+
+
+def parse_kind_prefix(raw: str) -> tuple[str | None, str]:
+    """Split a raw user-typed tag string into (kind, name).
+
+    Returns (kind, name) where kind is lowercase canonical and in
+    KNOWN_KINDS, or (None, raw.strip()) if no recognized prefix is
+    present. `name` is always whitespace-stripped.
+
+    Examples:
+        parse_kind_prefix("character:Saber") -> ("character", "Saber")
+        parse_kind_prefix("Character:Saber") -> ("character", "Saber")
+        parse_kind_prefix("sunset")          -> (None, "sunset")
+        parse_kind_prefix("http://example")  -> (None, "http://example")
+        parse_kind_prefix("artist: Eric ")   -> ("artist", "Eric")
+    """
+    if ":" in raw:
+        prefix, rest = raw.split(":", 1)
+        if prefix.lower() in KNOWN_KINDS:
+            return prefix.lower(), rest.strip()
+    return None, raw.strip()
diff --git a/tests/test_tag_prefix.py b/tests/test_tag_prefix.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0547386
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_tag_prefix.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""parse_kind_prefix — IR-style `kind:name` shortcut at the input boundary."""
+
+from backend.app.utils.tag_prefix import KNOWN_KINDS, parse_kind_prefix
+
+
+def test_recognized_kinds_match_user_input_set():
+    # System-managed kinds (archive, post) and the default (general)
+    # are intentionally excluded — the user can't type those at the
+    # input boundary.
+    assert KNOWN_KINDS == frozenset({
+        "artist", "character", "fandom", "series", "meta", "rating",
+    })
+
+
+def test_character_prefix_parsed():
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("character:Saber") == ("character", "Saber")
+
+
+def test_case_insensitive_prefix():
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("Character:Saber") == ("character", "Saber")
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("CHARACTER:Saber") == ("character", "Saber")
+
+
+def test_no_prefix_returns_none_kind():
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("sunset") == (None, "sunset")
+
+
+def test_unknown_prefix_kept_as_literal():
+    # 'http' is not a known kind — preserve the literal text.
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("http://example.com") == (None, "http://example.com")
+
+
+def test_whitespace_stripped():
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("artist: Eric ") == ("artist", "Eric")
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("  sunset  ") == (None, "sunset")
+
+
+def test_empty_string():
+    assert parse_kind_prefix("") == (None, "")
+
+
+def test_just_colon():
+    # Empty prefix → "" not in KNOWN_KINDS → falls through to (None, "...")
+    assert parse_kind_prefix(":foo") == (None, ":foo")