diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_role.py b/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_role.py
index 9e02c5c1b7..010f597323 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_role.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_role.py
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ description:
   - This module is also supported for Windows targets.
 version_added: "2.2"
 options:
+  apply:
+    description:
+      - Accepts a hash of task keywords (e.g. C(tags), C(become)) that will be applied to the tasks within the include.
+    version_added: '2.7'
   name:
     description:
       - The name of the role to be executed.
@@ -89,6 +93,15 @@ EXAMPLES = """
   include_role:
     name: myrole
   when: not idontwanttorun
+
+- name: Apply tags to tasks within included file
+  include_role:
+    name: install
+    apply:
+      tags:
+        - install
+  tags:
+    - always
 """
 
 RETURN = """
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_tasks.py b/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_tasks.py
index 67a8681eb4..b02d1264d0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_tasks.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/utilities/logic/include_tasks.py
@@ -23,10 +23,20 @@ description:
   - Includes a file with a list of tasks to be executed in the current playbook.
 version_added: "2.4"
 options:
-  free-form:
+  file:
     description:
       - The name of the imported file is specified directly without any other option.
       - Unlike M(import_tasks), most keywords, including loops and conditionals, apply to this statement.
+    version_added: '2.7'
+  apply:
+    description:
+      - Accepts a hash of task keywords (e.g. C(tags), C(become)) that will be applied to the tasks within the include.
+    version_added: '2.7'
+  free-form:
+    description:
+      - |
+        Supplying a file name via free-form C(- include_tasks: file.yml) of a file to be included is the equivalent
+        of specifying an argument of I(file).
 notes:
   - This is a core feature of the Ansible, rather than a module, and cannot be overridden like a module.
 '''
@@ -51,6 +61,24 @@ EXAMPLES = """
     - name: Include task list in play only if the condition is true
       include_tasks: "{{ hostvar }}.yaml"
       when: hostvar is defined
+
+- name: Apply tags to tasks within included file
+  include_tasks:
+    file: install.yml
+    apply:
+      tags:
+        - install
+  tags:
+    - always
+
+- name: Apply tags to tasks within included file when using free-form
+  include_tasks: install.yml
+  args:
+    apply:
+      tags:
+        - install
+  tags:
+    - always
 """
 
 RETURN = """
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
index f129c9a30b..e924422ee9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role_include.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from os.path import basename
 
 from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
+from ansible.playbook.block import Block
 from ansible.playbook.task_include import TaskInclude
 from ansible.playbook.role import Role
 from ansible.playbook.role.include import RoleInclude
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ class IncludeRole(TaskInclude):
 
     BASE = ('name', 'role')  # directly assigned
     FROM_ARGS = ('tasks_from', 'vars_from', 'defaults_from')  # used to populate from dict in role
-    OTHER_ARGS = ('private', 'allow_duplicates')  # assigned to matching property
+    OTHER_ARGS = ('apply', 'private', 'allow_duplicates')  # assigned to matching property
     VALID_ARGS = tuple(frozenset(BASE + FROM_ARGS + OTHER_ARGS))  # all valid args
 
     # =================================================================================
@@ -134,6 +135,23 @@ class IncludeRole(TaskInclude):
             from_key = key.replace('_from', '')
             ir._from_files[from_key] = basename(ir.args.get(key))
 
+        apply_attrs = ir.args.pop('apply', {})
+        if apply_attrs and ir.action != 'include_role':
+            raise AnsibleParserError('Invalid options for %s: apply' % ir.action, obj=data)
+        elif apply_attrs:
+            apply_attrs['block'] = []
+            p_block = Block.load(
+                apply_attrs,
+                play=block._play,
+                parent_block=block,
+                role=role,
+                task_include=task_include,
+                use_handlers=block._use_handlers,
+                variable_manager=variable_manager,
+                loader=loader,
+            )
+            ir._parent = p_block
+
         # manual list as otherwise the options would set other task parameters we don't want.
         for option in my_arg_names.intersection(IncludeRole.OTHER_ARGS):
             setattr(ir, option, ir.args.get(option))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py
index f8612a02d3..f4266d1b62 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task_include.py
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
+from ansible.playbook.block import Block
 from ansible.playbook.task import Task
 
 try:
@@ -38,6 +40,10 @@ class TaskInclude(Task):
     circumstances related to the `- include: ...` task.
     """
 
+    BASE = frozenset(('file', '_raw_params'))  # directly assigned
+    OTHER_ARGS = frozenset(('apply',))  # assigned to matching property
+    VALID_ARGS = BASE.union(OTHER_ARGS)  # all valid args
+
     # =================================================================================
     # ATTRIBUTES
 
@@ -49,8 +55,38 @@ class TaskInclude(Task):
 
     @staticmethod
     def load(data, block=None, role=None, task_include=None, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
-        t = TaskInclude(block=block, role=role, task_include=task_include)
-        return t.load_data(data, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
+        ti = TaskInclude(block=block, role=role, task_include=task_include)
+        task = ti.load_data(data, variable_manager=variable_manager, loader=loader)
+
+        # Validate options
+        my_arg_names = frozenset(task.args.keys())
+
+        # validate bad args, otherwise we silently ignore
+        bad_opts = my_arg_names.difference(TaskInclude.VALID_ARGS)
+        if bad_opts and task.action in ('include_tasks', 'import_tasks'):
+            raise AnsibleParserError('Invalid options for %s: %s' % (task.action, ','.join(list(bad_opts))), obj=data)
+
+        if not task.args.get('_raw_params'):
+            task.args['_raw_params'] = task.args.pop('file')
+
+        apply_attrs = task.args.pop('apply', {})
+        if apply_attrs and task.action != 'include_tasks':
+            raise AnsibleParserError('Invalid options for %s: apply' % task.action, obj=data)
+        elif apply_attrs:
+            apply_attrs['block'] = []
+            p_block = Block.load(
+                apply_attrs,
+                play=block._play,
+                parent_block=block,
+                role=role,
+                task_include=task_include,
+                use_handlers=block._use_handlers,
+                variable_manager=variable_manager,
+                loader=loader,
+            )
+            task._parent = p_block
+
+        return task
 
     def copy(self, exclude_parent=False, exclude_tasks=False):
         new_me = super(TaskInclude, self).copy(exclude_parent=exclude_parent, exclude_tasks=exclude_tasks)
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/import_apply.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/import_apply.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..27a40861c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/import_apply.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+- hosts: testhost
+  gather_facts: false
+  tasks:
+    - import_tasks:
+        file: import_tasks.yml
+        apply:
+          tags:
+            - foo
+      tags:
+        - always
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - include_tasks_result is defined
+      tags:
+        - always
+
+    - import_role:
+        name: import_role
+        apply:
+          tags:
+            - foo
+      tags:
+        - always
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - include_role_result is defined
+      tags:
+        - always
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_apply.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_apply.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f71530268
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_apply.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+- hosts: testhost
+  gather_facts: false
+  tasks:
+    - include_tasks:
+        file: include_tasks.yml
+        apply:
+          tags:
+            - foo
+      tags:
+        - always
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - include_tasks_result is defined
+      tags:
+        - always
+
+    - include_role:
+        name: include_role
+        apply:
+          tags:
+            - foo
+      tags:
+        - always
+
+    - assert:
+        that:
+          - include_role_result is defined
+      tags:
+        - always
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_tasks.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_tasks.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..be511d1ea4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/include_tasks.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- set_fact:
+    include_tasks_result: true
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/roles/include_role/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/roles/include_role/tasks/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7f86b26406
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/apply/roles/include_role/tasks/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+- set_fact:
+    include_role_result: true
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/include_import/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/include_import/runme.sh
index d5d00bb9f1..b8a8a4ce9b 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/include_import/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/include_import/runme.sh
@@ -67,3 +67,13 @@ ANSIBLE_STRATEGY='free' ansible-playbook undefined_var/playbook.yml  -i ../../in
 # Include path inheritance using host var for include file path
 ANSIBLE_STRATEGY='linear' ansible-playbook include_path_inheritance/playbook.yml  -i ../../inventory "$@"
 ANSIBLE_STRATEGY='free' ansible-playbook include_path_inheritance/playbook.yml  -i ../../inventory "$@"
+
+# include_ + apply (explicit inheritance)
+ANSIBLE_STRATEGY='linear' ansible-playbook apply/include_apply.yml -i ../../inventory "$@" --tags foo
+set +e
+OUT=$(ANSIBLE_STRATEGY='linear' ansible-playbook apply/import_apply.yml -i ../../inventory "$@" --tags foo 2>&1 | grep 'ERROR! Invalid options for import_tasks: apply')
+set -e
+if [[ -z "$OUT" ]]; then
+    echo "apply on import_tasks did not cause error"
+    exit 1
+fi