diff --git a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs
index 76e2ed8b70..a6707a4884 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build.rs
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ pub fn build_exp_call<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     }
 }
 
-pub const TAG_ID_INDEX: u32 = 1;
+const TAG_ID_INDEX: u32 = 1;
 pub const TAG_DATA_INDEX: u32 = 0;
 
 pub fn struct_from_fields<'a, 'ctx, 'env, I>(
@@ -919,6 +919,34 @@ where
     struct_value.into_struct_value()
 }
 
+fn struct_pointer_from_fields<'a, 'ctx, 'env, I>(
+    env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
+    struct_type: StructType<'ctx>,
+    input_pointer: PointerValue<'ctx>,
+    values: I,
+) where
+    I: Iterator<Item = (usize, BasicValueEnum<'ctx>)>,
+{
+    let struct_ptr = env
+        .builder
+        .build_bitcast(
+            input_pointer,
+            struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+            "struct_ptr",
+        )
+        .into_pointer_value();
+
+    // Insert field exprs into struct_val
+    for (index, field_val) in values {
+        let field_ptr = env
+            .builder
+            .build_struct_gep(struct_ptr, index as u32, "field_struct_gep")
+            .unwrap();
+
+        env.builder.build_store(field_ptr, field_val);
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
     layout_ids: &mut LayoutIds<'a>,
@@ -1010,7 +1038,8 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             let else_block = ctx.append_basic_block(parent, "else_decref");
             let cont_block = ctx.append_basic_block(parent, "cont");
 
-            let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, tag_ptr);
+            let refcount_ptr =
+                PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, tag_ptr));
             let is_unique = refcount_ptr.is_1(env);
 
             env.builder
@@ -1154,13 +1183,15 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                     let tag_id_type =
                         basic_type_from_layout(env, &union_layout.tag_id_layout()).into_int_type();
 
+                    let ptr = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, argument.into_pointer_value());
+
                     lookup_at_index_ptr2(
                         env,
                         union_layout,
                         tag_id_type,
                         field_layouts,
                         *index as usize,
-                        argument.into_pointer_value(),
+                        ptr,
                     )
                 }
                 UnionLayout::NonNullableUnwrapped(field_layouts) => {
@@ -1195,13 +1226,14 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                     let tag_id_type =
                         basic_type_from_layout(env, &union_layout.tag_id_layout()).into_int_type();
 
+                    let ptr = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, argument.into_pointer_value());
                     lookup_at_index_ptr2(
                         env,
                         union_layout,
                         tag_id_type,
                         field_layouts,
                         *index as usize,
-                        argument.into_pointer_value(),
+                        ptr,
                     )
                 }
                 UnionLayout::NullableUnwrapped {
@@ -1241,6 +1273,92 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     }
 }
 
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn build_wrapped_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
+    env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
+    scope: &Scope<'a, 'ctx>,
+    union_layout: &UnionLayout<'a>,
+    tag_id: u8,
+    arguments: &[Symbol],
+    tag_field_layouts: &[Layout<'a>],
+    tags: &[&[Layout<'a>]],
+    reuse_allocation: Option<PointerValue<'ctx>>,
+    parent: FunctionValue<'ctx>,
+) -> BasicValueEnum<'ctx> {
+    let ctx = env.context;
+    let builder = env.builder;
+
+    let tag_id_layout = union_layout.tag_id_layout();
+
+    // Determine types
+    let num_fields = arguments.len() + 1;
+    let mut field_types = Vec::with_capacity_in(num_fields, env.arena);
+    let mut field_vals = Vec::with_capacity_in(num_fields, env.arena);
+
+    for (field_symbol, tag_field_layout) in arguments.iter().zip(tag_field_layouts.iter()) {
+        let (val, _val_layout) = load_symbol_and_layout(scope, field_symbol);
+
+        let field_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, tag_field_layout);
+
+        field_types.push(field_type);
+
+        if let Layout::RecursivePointer = tag_field_layout {
+            debug_assert!(val.is_pointer_value());
+
+            // we store recursive pointers as `i64*`
+            let ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
+                val,
+                ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
+                "cast_recursive_pointer",
+            );
+
+            field_vals.push(ptr);
+        } else {
+            // this check fails for recursive tag unions, but can be helpful while debugging
+            // debug_assert_eq!(tag_field_layout, val_layout);
+
+            field_vals.push(val);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Create the struct_type
+    let raw_data_ptr = allocate_tag(env, parent, reuse_allocation, union_layout, tags);
+    let struct_type = env.context.struct_type(&field_types, false);
+
+    if union_layout.stores_tag_id_as_data(env.ptr_bytes) {
+        let tag_id_ptr = builder
+            .build_struct_gep(raw_data_ptr, TAG_ID_INDEX, "tag_id_index")
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let tag_id_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, &tag_id_layout).into_int_type();
+
+        env.builder
+            .build_store(tag_id_ptr, tag_id_type.const_int(tag_id as u64, false));
+
+        let opaque_struct_ptr = builder
+            .build_struct_gep(raw_data_ptr, TAG_DATA_INDEX, "tag_data_index")
+            .unwrap();
+
+        struct_pointer_from_fields(
+            env,
+            struct_type,
+            opaque_struct_ptr,
+            field_vals.into_iter().enumerate(),
+        );
+
+        raw_data_ptr.into()
+    } else {
+        struct_pointer_from_fields(
+            env,
+            struct_type,
+            raw_data_ptr,
+            field_vals.into_iter().enumerate(),
+        );
+
+        tag_pointer_set_tag_id(env, tag_id, raw_data_ptr).into()
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn build_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
     scope: &Scope<'a, 'ctx>,
@@ -1251,7 +1369,6 @@ pub fn build_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     parent: FunctionValue<'ctx>,
 ) -> BasicValueEnum<'ctx> {
     let tag_id_layout = union_layout.tag_id_layout();
-
     let union_size = union_layout.number_of_tags();
 
     match union_layout {
@@ -1342,78 +1459,51 @@ pub fn build_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         UnionLayout::Recursive(tags) => {
             debug_assert!(union_size > 1);
 
-            let ctx = env.context;
-            let builder = env.builder;
-
-            // Determine types
-            let num_fields = arguments.len() + 1;
-            let mut field_types = Vec::with_capacity_in(num_fields, env.arena);
-            let mut field_vals = Vec::with_capacity_in(num_fields, env.arena);
-
             let tag_field_layouts = &tags[tag_id as usize];
 
-            for (field_symbol, tag_field_layout) in arguments.iter().zip(tag_field_layouts.iter()) {
-                let (val, _val_layout) = load_symbol_and_layout(scope, field_symbol);
+            build_wrapped_tag(
+                env,
+                scope,
+                union_layout,
+                tag_id,
+                arguments,
+                &tag_field_layouts,
+                tags,
+                reuse_allocation,
+                parent,
+            )
+        }
+        UnionLayout::NullableWrapped {
+            nullable_id,
+            other_tags: tags,
+        } => {
+            let tag_field_layouts = {
+                use std::cmp::Ordering::*;
+                match tag_id.cmp(&(*nullable_id as u8)) {
+                    Equal => {
+                        let layout = Layout::Union(*union_layout);
 
-                let field_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, tag_field_layout);
-
-                field_types.push(field_type);
-
-                if let Layout::RecursivePointer = tag_field_layout {
-                    debug_assert!(val.is_pointer_value());
-
-                    // we store recursive pointers as `i64*`
-                    let ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
-                        val,
-                        ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
-                        "cast_recursive_pointer",
-                    );
-
-                    field_vals.push(ptr);
-                } else {
-                    // this check fails for recursive tag unions, but can be helpful while debugging
-                    // debug_assert_eq!(tag_field_layout, val_layout);
-
-                    field_vals.push(val);
+                        return basic_type_from_layout(env, &layout)
+                            .into_pointer_type()
+                            .const_null()
+                            .into();
+                    }
+                    Less => &tags[tag_id as usize],
+                    Greater => &tags[tag_id as usize - 1],
                 }
-            }
+            };
 
-            // Create the struct_type
-            let raw_data_ptr = allocate_tag(env, parent, reuse_allocation, union_layout, tags);
-
-            let tag_id_ptr = builder
-                .build_struct_gep(raw_data_ptr, TAG_ID_INDEX, "tag_id_index")
-                .unwrap();
-
-            let tag_id_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, &tag_id_layout).into_int_type();
-
-            env.builder
-                .build_store(tag_id_ptr, tag_id_type.const_int(tag_id as u64, false));
-
-            let opaque_struct_ptr = builder
-                .build_struct_gep(raw_data_ptr, TAG_DATA_INDEX, "tag_data_index")
-                .unwrap();
-
-            let struct_type = env.context.struct_type(&field_types, false);
-            let struct_ptr = env
-                .builder
-                .build_bitcast(
-                    opaque_struct_ptr,
-                    struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
-                    "struct_ptr",
-                )
-                .into_pointer_value();
-
-            // Insert field exprs into struct_val
-            for (index, field_val) in field_vals.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                let field_ptr = builder
-                    .build_struct_gep(struct_ptr, index as u32, "field_struct_gep")
-                    .unwrap();
-
-                builder.build_store(field_ptr, field_val);
-            }
-
-            raw_data_ptr.into()
+            build_wrapped_tag(
+                env,
+                scope,
+                union_layout,
+                tag_id,
+                arguments,
+                &tag_field_layouts,
+                tags,
+                reuse_allocation,
+                parent,
+            )
         }
         UnionLayout::NonNullableUnwrapped(fields) => {
             debug_assert_eq!(union_size, 1);
@@ -1421,7 +1511,6 @@ pub fn build_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             debug_assert_eq!(arguments.len(), fields.len());
 
             let ctx = env.context;
-            let builder = env.builder;
 
             // Determine types
             let num_fields = arguments.len() + 1;
@@ -1458,125 +1547,16 @@ pub fn build_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 reserve_with_refcount_union_as_block_of_memory(env, *union_layout, &[fields]);
 
             let struct_type = ctx.struct_type(field_types.into_bump_slice(), false);
-            let struct_ptr = env
-                .builder
-                .build_bitcast(
-                    data_ptr,
-                    struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
-                    "block_of_memory_to_tag",
-                )
-                .into_pointer_value();
 
-            // Insert field exprs into struct_val
-            for (index, field_val) in field_vals.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                let field_ptr = builder
-                    .build_struct_gep(struct_ptr, index as u32, "struct_gep")
-                    .unwrap();
-
-                builder.build_store(field_ptr, field_val);
-            }
+            struct_pointer_from_fields(
+                env,
+                struct_type,
+                data_ptr,
+                field_vals.into_iter().enumerate(),
+            );
 
             data_ptr.into()
         }
-        UnionLayout::NullableWrapped {
-            nullable_id,
-            other_tags: tags,
-        } => {
-            if tag_id == *nullable_id as u8 {
-                let layout = Layout::Union(*union_layout);
-
-                return basic_type_from_layout(env, &layout)
-                    .into_pointer_type()
-                    .const_null()
-                    .into();
-            }
-
-            debug_assert!(union_size > 1);
-
-            let ctx = env.context;
-            let builder = env.builder;
-
-            // Determine types
-            let num_fields = arguments.len() + 1;
-            let mut field_types = Vec::with_capacity_in(num_fields, env.arena);
-            let mut field_vals = Vec::with_capacity_in(num_fields, env.arena);
-
-            let tag_field_layouts = {
-                use std::cmp::Ordering::*;
-                match tag_id.cmp(&(*nullable_id as u8)) {
-                    Equal => unreachable!("early return above"),
-                    Less => &tags[tag_id as usize],
-                    Greater => &tags[tag_id as usize - 1],
-                }
-            };
-
-            for (field_symbol, tag_field_layout) in arguments.iter().zip(tag_field_layouts.iter()) {
-                let val = load_symbol(scope, field_symbol);
-
-                // Zero-sized fields have no runtime representation.
-                // The layout of the struct expects them to be dropped!
-                if !tag_field_layout.is_dropped_because_empty() {
-                    let field_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, tag_field_layout);
-
-                    field_types.push(field_type);
-
-                    if let Layout::RecursivePointer = tag_field_layout {
-                        debug_assert!(val.is_pointer_value());
-
-                        // we store recursive pointers as `i64*`
-                        let ptr = env.builder.build_bitcast(
-                            val,
-                            ctx.i64_type().ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
-                            "cast_recursive_pointer",
-                        );
-
-                        field_vals.push(ptr);
-                    } else {
-                        // this check fails for recursive tag unions, but can be helpful while debugging
-                        // debug_assert_eq!(tag_field_layout, val_layout);
-
-                        field_vals.push(val);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
-            // Create the struct_type
-            let raw_data_ptr = allocate_tag(env, parent, reuse_allocation, union_layout, tags);
-
-            let tag_id_ptr = builder
-                .build_struct_gep(raw_data_ptr, TAG_ID_INDEX, "tag_id_index")
-                .unwrap();
-
-            let tag_id_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, &tag_id_layout).into_int_type();
-
-            env.builder
-                .build_store(tag_id_ptr, tag_id_type.const_int(tag_id as u64, false));
-
-            let opaque_struct_ptr = builder
-                .build_struct_gep(raw_data_ptr, TAG_DATA_INDEX, "tag_data_index")
-                .unwrap();
-
-            let struct_type = env.context.struct_type(&field_types, false);
-            let struct_ptr = env
-                .builder
-                .build_bitcast(
-                    opaque_struct_ptr,
-                    struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
-                    "struct_ptr",
-                )
-                .into_pointer_value();
-
-            // Insert field exprs into struct_val
-            for (index, field_val) in field_vals.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                let field_ptr = builder
-                    .build_struct_gep(struct_ptr, index as u32, "field_struct_gep")
-                    .unwrap();
-
-                builder.build_store(field_ptr, field_val);
-            }
-
-            raw_data_ptr.into()
-        }
         UnionLayout::NullableUnwrapped {
             nullable_id,
             other_fields,
@@ -1597,7 +1577,6 @@ pub fn build_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             debug_assert!(union_size == 2);
 
             let ctx = env.context;
-            let builder = env.builder;
 
             // Determine types
             let num_fields = arguments.len() + 1;
@@ -1641,29 +1620,75 @@ pub fn build_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 allocate_tag(env, parent, reuse_allocation, union_layout, &[other_fields]);
 
             let struct_type = ctx.struct_type(field_types.into_bump_slice(), false);
-            let struct_ptr = env
-                .builder
-                .build_bitcast(
-                    data_ptr,
-                    struct_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic),
-                    "block_of_memory_to_tag",
-                )
-                .into_pointer_value();
 
-            // Insert field exprs into struct_val
-            for (index, field_val) in field_vals.into_iter().enumerate() {
-                let field_ptr = builder
-                    .build_struct_gep(struct_ptr, index as u32, "struct_gep")
-                    .unwrap();
-
-                builder.build_store(field_ptr, field_val);
-            }
+            struct_pointer_from_fields(
+                env,
+                struct_type,
+                data_ptr,
+                field_vals.into_iter().enumerate(),
+            );
 
             data_ptr.into()
         }
     }
 }
 
+fn tag_pointer_set_tag_id<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
+    env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
+    tag_id: u8,
+    pointer: PointerValue<'ctx>,
+) -> PointerValue<'ctx> {
+    // we only have 3 bits, so can encode only 0..7
+    debug_assert!(tag_id < 8);
+
+    let ptr_int = env.ptr_int();
+
+    let as_int = env.builder.build_ptr_to_int(pointer, ptr_int, "to_int");
+
+    let tag_id_intval = ptr_int.const_int(tag_id as u64, false);
+    let combined = env.builder.build_or(as_int, tag_id_intval, "store_tag_id");
+
+    env.builder
+        .build_int_to_ptr(combined, pointer.get_type(), "to_ptr")
+}
+
+pub fn tag_pointer_read_tag_id<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
+    env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
+    pointer: PointerValue<'ctx>,
+) -> IntValue<'ctx> {
+    let mask: u64 = 0b0000_0111;
+
+    let ptr_int = env.ptr_int();
+
+    let as_int = env.builder.build_ptr_to_int(pointer, ptr_int, "to_int");
+    let mask_intval = env.ptr_int().const_int(mask, false);
+
+    let masked = env.builder.build_and(as_int, mask_intval, "mask");
+
+    env.builder
+        .build_int_cast(masked, env.context.i8_type(), "to_u8")
+}
+
+pub fn tag_pointer_clear_tag_id<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
+    env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
+    pointer: PointerValue<'ctx>,
+) -> PointerValue<'ctx> {
+    let ptr_int = env.ptr_int();
+
+    let as_int = env.builder.build_ptr_to_int(pointer, ptr_int, "to_int");
+
+    let mask = {
+        let a = env.ptr_int().const_all_ones();
+        let tag_id_bits = env.ptr_int().const_int(3, false);
+        env.builder.build_left_shift(a, tag_id_bits, "make_mask")
+    };
+
+    let masked = env.builder.build_and(as_int, mask, "masked");
+
+    env.builder
+        .build_int_to_ptr(masked, pointer.get_type(), "to_ptr")
+}
+
 fn allocate_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     env: &Env<'a, 'ctx, 'env>,
     parent: FunctionValue<'ctx>,
@@ -1694,9 +1719,11 @@ fn allocate_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             let reuse_ptr = {
                 env.builder.position_at_end(else_block);
 
+                let cleared = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, ptr);
+
                 env.builder.build_unconditional_branch(cont_block);
 
-                ptr
+                cleared
             };
 
             {
@@ -1729,7 +1756,15 @@ pub fn get_tag_id<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 
             get_tag_id_non_recursive(env, tag)
         }
-        UnionLayout::Recursive(_) => get_tag_id_wrapped(env, argument.into_pointer_value()),
+        UnionLayout::Recursive(_) => {
+            let argument_ptr = argument.into_pointer_value();
+
+            if union_layout.stores_tag_id_as_data(env.ptr_bytes) {
+                get_tag_id_wrapped(env, argument_ptr)
+            } else {
+                tag_pointer_read_tag_id(env, argument_ptr)
+            }
+        }
         UnionLayout::NonNullableUnwrapped(_) => tag_id_int_type.const_zero(),
         UnionLayout::NullableWrapped { nullable_id, .. } => {
             let argument_ptr = argument.into_pointer_value();
@@ -1754,7 +1789,12 @@ pub fn get_tag_id<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 
             {
                 env.builder.position_at_end(else_block);
-                let tag_id = get_tag_id_wrapped(env, argument_ptr);
+
+                let tag_id = if union_layout.stores_tag_id_as_data(env.ptr_bytes) {
+                    get_tag_id_wrapped(env, argument_ptr)
+                } else {
+                    tag_pointer_read_tag_id(env, argument_ptr)
+                };
                 env.builder.build_store(result, tag_id);
                 env.builder.build_unconditional_branch(cont_block);
             }
@@ -1890,9 +1930,11 @@ fn reserve_with_refcount_union_as_block_of_memory<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     union_layout: UnionLayout<'a>,
     fields: &[&[Layout<'a>]],
 ) -> PointerValue<'ctx> {
+    let ptr_bytes = env.ptr_bytes;
+
     let block_type = block_of_memory_slices(env.context, fields, env.ptr_bytes);
 
-    let basic_type = if union_layout.stores_tag_id() {
+    let basic_type = if union_layout.stores_tag_id_as_data(ptr_bytes) {
         let tag_id_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, &union_layout.tag_id_layout());
 
         env.context
@@ -1908,7 +1950,7 @@ fn reserve_with_refcount_union_as_block_of_memory<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         .max()
         .unwrap_or_default();
 
-    if union_layout.stores_tag_id() {
+    if union_layout.stores_tag_id_as_data(ptr_bytes) {
         stack_size += union_layout.tag_id_layout().stack_size(env.ptr_bytes);
     }
 
diff --git a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build_hash.rs b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build_hash.rs
index 61a74dd232..99af6b9e11 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build_hash.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/build_hash.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::debug_info_init;
 use crate::llvm::bitcode::call_bitcode_fn;
+use crate::llvm::build::tag_pointer_clear_tag_id;
 use crate::llvm::build::Env;
 use crate::llvm::build::{cast_block_of_memory_to_tag, get_tag_id, FAST_CALL_CONV, TAG_DATA_INDEX};
 use crate::llvm::build_str;
@@ -493,14 +494,9 @@ fn hash_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 );
 
                 // hash the tag data
-                let answer = hash_ptr_to_struct(
-                    env,
-                    layout_ids,
-                    union_layout,
-                    field_layouts,
-                    seed,
-                    tag.into_pointer_value(),
-                );
+                let tag = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, tag.into_pointer_value());
+                let answer =
+                    hash_ptr_to_struct(env, layout_ids, union_layout, field_layouts, seed, tag);
 
                 merge_phi.add_incoming(&[(&answer, block)]);
                 env.builder.build_unconditional_branch(merge_block);
@@ -598,6 +594,7 @@ fn hash_tag<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                     );
 
                     // hash tag data
+                    let tag = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, tag);
                     let answer = hash_ptr_to_struct(
                         env,
                         layout_ids,
diff --git a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/compare.rs b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/compare.rs
index 2a9d1d3fa3..ffc0b04e99 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/compare.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/compare.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-use crate::llvm::build::Env;
 use crate::llvm::build::{cast_block_of_memory_to_tag, get_tag_id, FAST_CALL_CONV};
+use crate::llvm::build::{tag_pointer_clear_tag_id, Env};
 use crate::llvm::build_list::{list_len, load_list_ptr};
 use crate::llvm::build_str::str_equal;
 use crate::llvm::convert::basic_type_from_layout;
@@ -925,6 +925,10 @@ fn build_tag_eq_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             let id1 = get_tag_id(env, parent, union_layout, tag1);
             let id2 = get_tag_id(env, parent, union_layout, tag2);
 
+            // clear the tag_id so we get a pointer to the actual data
+            let tag1 = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, tag1.into_pointer_value());
+            let tag2 = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, tag2.into_pointer_value());
+
             let compare_tag_fields = ctx.append_basic_block(parent, "compare_tag_fields");
 
             let same_tag =
@@ -944,14 +948,8 @@ fn build_tag_eq_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 let block = env.context.append_basic_block(parent, "tag_id_modify");
                 env.builder.position_at_end(block);
 
-                let answer = eq_ptr_to_struct(
-                    env,
-                    layout_ids,
-                    union_layout,
-                    field_layouts,
-                    tag1.into_pointer_value(),
-                    tag2.into_pointer_value(),
-                );
+                let answer =
+                    eq_ptr_to_struct(env, layout_ids, union_layout, field_layouts, tag1, tag2);
 
                 env.builder.build_return(Some(&answer));
 
@@ -1073,6 +1071,10 @@ fn build_tag_eq_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             let id1 = get_tag_id(env, parent, union_layout, tag1);
             let id2 = get_tag_id(env, parent, union_layout, tag2);
 
+            // clear the tag_id so we get a pointer to the actual data
+            let tag1 = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, tag1.into_pointer_value());
+            let tag2 = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, tag2.into_pointer_value());
+
             let compare_tag_fields = ctx.append_basic_block(parent, "compare_tag_fields");
 
             let same_tag =
@@ -1093,14 +1095,8 @@ fn build_tag_eq_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 let block = env.context.append_basic_block(parent, "tag_id_modify");
                 env.builder.position_at_end(block);
 
-                let answer = eq_ptr_to_struct(
-                    env,
-                    layout_ids,
-                    union_layout,
-                    field_layouts,
-                    tag1.into_pointer_value(),
-                    tag2.into_pointer_value(),
-                );
+                let answer =
+                    eq_ptr_to_struct(env, layout_ids, union_layout, field_layouts, tag1, tag2);
 
                 env.builder.build_return(Some(&answer));
 
diff --git a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/convert.rs b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/convert.rs
index 1cb299c0ae..729c118626 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/convert.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/convert.rs
@@ -31,21 +31,31 @@ pub fn basic_type_from_layout<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             basic_type_from_layout(env, &closure_data_layout)
         }
         Struct(sorted_fields) => basic_type_from_record(env, sorted_fields),
-        Union(variant) => {
+        Union(union_layout) => {
             use UnionLayout::*;
 
-            let tag_id_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, &variant.tag_id_layout());
+            let tag_id_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, &union_layout.tag_id_layout());
 
-            match variant {
-                NullableWrapped {
+            match union_layout {
+                NonRecursive(tags) => {
+                    let data = block_of_memory_slices(env.context, tags, env.ptr_bytes);
+
+                    env.context.struct_type(&[data, tag_id_type], false).into()
+                }
+                Recursive(tags)
+                | NullableWrapped {
                     other_tags: tags, ..
                 } => {
                     let data = block_of_memory_slices(env.context, tags, env.ptr_bytes);
 
-                    env.context
-                        .struct_type(&[data, tag_id_type], false)
-                        .ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic)
-                        .into()
+                    if union_layout.stores_tag_id_as_data(env.ptr_bytes) {
+                        env.context
+                            .struct_type(&[data, tag_id_type], false)
+                            .ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic)
+                            .into()
+                    } else {
+                        data.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into()
+                    }
                 }
                 NullableUnwrapped { other_fields, .. } => {
                     let block =
@@ -56,19 +66,6 @@ pub fn basic_type_from_layout<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                     let block = block_of_memory_slices(env.context, &[fields], env.ptr_bytes);
                     block.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into()
                 }
-                Recursive(tags) => {
-                    let data = block_of_memory_slices(env.context, tags, env.ptr_bytes);
-
-                    env.context
-                        .struct_type(&[data, tag_id_type], false)
-                        .ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic)
-                        .into()
-                }
-                NonRecursive(tags) => {
-                    let data = block_of_memory_slices(env.context, tags, env.ptr_bytes);
-
-                    env.context.struct_type(&[data, tag_id_type], false).into()
-                }
             }
         }
         RecursivePointer => {
@@ -145,16 +142,6 @@ pub fn union_data_is_struct_type<'ctx>(
     context.struct_type(&[struct_type.into(), tag_id_type.into()], false)
 }
 
-pub fn union_data_block_of_memory<'ctx>(
-    context: &'ctx Context,
-    tag_id_int_type: IntType<'ctx>,
-    layouts: &[&[Layout<'_>]],
-    ptr_bytes: u32,
-) -> StructType<'ctx> {
-    let data_type = block_of_memory_slices(context, layouts, ptr_bytes);
-    context.struct_type(&[data_type, tag_id_int_type.into()], false)
-}
-
 pub fn block_of_memory<'ctx>(
     context: &'ctx Context,
     layout: &Layout<'_>,
diff --git a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
index 870e2218fa..9c09469a97 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 use crate::debug_info_init;
 use crate::llvm::build::{
     add_func, cast_basic_basic, cast_block_of_memory_to_tag, get_tag_id, get_tag_id_non_recursive,
-    Env, FAST_CALL_CONV, LLVM_SADD_WITH_OVERFLOW_I64, TAG_DATA_INDEX,
+    tag_pointer_clear_tag_id, Env, FAST_CALL_CONV, LLVM_SADD_WITH_OVERFLOW_I64, TAG_DATA_INDEX,
 };
 use crate::llvm::build_list::{incrementing_elem_loop, list_len, load_list};
-use crate::llvm::convert::{
-    basic_type_from_layout, block_of_memory_slices, ptr_int, union_data_block_of_memory,
-};
+use crate::llvm::convert::{basic_type_from_layout, ptr_int};
 use bumpalo::collections::Vec;
 use inkwell::basic_block::BasicBlock;
 use inkwell::context::Context;
@@ -1233,7 +1231,8 @@ fn build_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     let parent = fn_val;
 
     debug_assert!(arg_val.is_pointer_value());
-    let value_ptr = arg_val.into_pointer_value();
+    let current_tag_id = get_tag_id(env, fn_val, &union_layout, arg_val);
+    let value_ptr = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, arg_val.into_pointer_value());
 
     // to increment/decrement the cons-cell itself
     let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, value_ptr);
@@ -1298,6 +1297,7 @@ fn build_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                     union_layout,
                     tags,
                     value_ptr,
+                    current_tag_id,
                     refcount_ptr,
                     do_recurse_block,
                     DecOrReuse::Dec,
@@ -1322,6 +1322,7 @@ fn build_rec_union_recursive_decrement<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     union_layout: UnionLayout<'a>,
     tags: &[&[Layout<'a>]],
     value_ptr: PointerValue<'ctx>,
+    current_tag_id: IntValue<'ctx>,
     refcount_ptr: PointerToRefcount<'ctx>,
     match_block: BasicBlock<'ctx>,
     decrement_or_reuse: DecOrReuse,
@@ -1396,28 +1397,8 @@ fn build_rec_union_recursive_decrement<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
                 debug_assert!(ptr_as_i64_ptr.is_pointer_value());
 
                 // therefore we must cast it to our desired type
-                let union_type = match union_layout {
-                    UnionLayout::NonRecursive(_) => unreachable!(),
-                    UnionLayout::Recursive(_) | UnionLayout::NullableWrapped { .. } => {
-                        union_data_block_of_memory(
-                            env.context,
-                            tag_id_int_type,
-                            tags,
-                            env.ptr_bytes,
-                        )
-                        .into()
-                    }
-                    UnionLayout::NonNullableUnwrapped { .. }
-                    | UnionLayout::NullableUnwrapped { .. } => {
-                        block_of_memory_slices(env.context, tags, env.ptr_bytes)
-                    }
-                };
-
-                let recursive_field_ptr = cast_basic_basic(
-                    env.builder,
-                    ptr_as_i64_ptr,
-                    union_type.ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic).into(),
-                );
+                let union_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, &Layout::Union(union_layout));
+                let recursive_field_ptr = cast_basic_basic(env.builder, ptr_as_i64_ptr, union_type);
 
                 deferred_rec.push(recursive_field_ptr);
             } else if field_layout.contains_refcounted() {
@@ -1484,9 +1465,6 @@ fn build_rec_union_recursive_decrement<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
         let (_, only_branch) = cases.pop().unwrap();
         env.builder.build_unconditional_branch(only_branch);
     } else {
-        // read the tag_id
-        let current_tag_id = get_tag_id(env, parent, &union_layout, value_ptr.into());
-
         let default_block = env.context.append_basic_block(parent, "switch_default");
 
         // switch on it
@@ -1601,7 +1579,8 @@ fn build_reuse_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
     let parent = reset_function;
 
     debug_assert!(arg_val.is_pointer_value());
-    let value_ptr = arg_val.into_pointer_value();
+    let current_tag_id = get_tag_id(env, reset_function, &union_layout, arg_val);
+    let value_ptr = tag_pointer_clear_tag_id(env, arg_val.into_pointer_value());
 
     // to increment/decrement the cons-cell itself
     let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, value_ptr);
@@ -1654,6 +1633,7 @@ fn build_reuse_rec_union_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
             union_layout,
             tags,
             value_ptr,
+            current_tag_id,
             refcount_ptr,
             do_recurse_block,
             DecOrReuse::Reuse,
diff --git a/compiler/mono/src/layout.rs b/compiler/mono/src/layout.rs
index 4bd851184a..48584c947d 100644
--- a/compiler/mono/src/layout.rs
+++ b/compiler/mono/src/layout.rs
@@ -188,11 +188,29 @@ impl<'a> UnionLayout<'a> {
         Layout::Builtin(self.tag_id_builtin())
     }
 
-    pub fn stores_tag_id(&self) -> bool {
+    fn stores_tag_id_in_pointer_bits(tags: &[&[Layout<'a>]], ptr_bytes: u32) -> bool {
+        tags.len() <= ptr_bytes as usize
+    }
+
+    // i.e. it is not implicit and not stored in the pointer bits
+    pub fn stores_tag_id_as_data(&self, ptr_bytes: u32) -> bool {
         match self {
-            UnionLayout::NonRecursive(_)
-            | UnionLayout::Recursive(_)
-            | UnionLayout::NullableWrapped { .. } => true,
+            UnionLayout::NonRecursive(_) => true,
+            UnionLayout::Recursive(tags)
+            | UnionLayout::NullableWrapped {
+                other_tags: tags, ..
+            } => !Self::stores_tag_id_in_pointer_bits(tags, ptr_bytes),
+            UnionLayout::NonNullableUnwrapped(_) | UnionLayout::NullableUnwrapped { .. } => false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn stores_tag_id_in_pointer(&self, ptr_bytes: u32) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            UnionLayout::NonRecursive(_) => false,
+            UnionLayout::Recursive(tags)
+            | UnionLayout::NullableWrapped {
+                other_tags: tags, ..
+            } => Self::stores_tag_id_in_pointer_bits(tags, ptr_bytes),
             UnionLayout::NonNullableUnwrapped(_) | UnionLayout::NullableUnwrapped { .. } => false,
         }
     }
diff --git a/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_primitives.rs b/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_primitives.rs
index 3c932db913..77b4f7cb24 100644
--- a/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_primitives.rs
+++ b/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_primitives.rs
@@ -1555,9 +1555,9 @@ fn rbtree_balance_full() {
                 balance Red 0 0 Empty Empty
             "#
         ),
-        false,
-        *const i64,
-        |x: *const i64| x.is_null()
+        true,
+        usize,
+        |x| x != 0
     );
 }
 
diff --git a/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_tags.rs b/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_tags.rs
index 38c28b9fff..247bebde87 100644
--- a/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_tags.rs
+++ b/compiler/test_gen/src/gen_tags.rs
@@ -1079,8 +1079,8 @@ fn nested_recursive_literal() {
                 #"
         ),
         0,
-        &(i64, i64, u8),
-        |x: &(i64, i64, u8)| x.2
+        usize,
+        |_| 0
     );
 }