There are a few reasons why painter's tape may peel paint, however, the most common reason is painting an uneven surface. If the tape does not fully adhere to a wall, baseboard, or door frame, then paint can seep beneath and pull up when you remove the tape – along with any paint it is stuck to. It may also be that you have stuck tape on top of existing paint, such as a ceiling, and the strong adhesive has lifted old dried paint away with it.