Meta tags are relevant because they tell search engines what your webpage is about and will impact its overall ranking. The title tag and meta description are most important. They not only have a strong impact on search rankings, but also can boost click-through rates since they are visible to users on SERP.
While you shouldn’t make the mistake of ignoring meta tags, it’s also not wise to consider these as the be-all and end-all of your SEO efforts. A sea of activities need to be performed to significantly improve page rankings.