diff --git src/wp-admin/edit-tags.php src/wp-admin/edit-tags.php
index 76e7204..b048103 100644
--- src/wp-admin/edit-tags.php
+++ src/wp-admin/edit-tags.php
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
 	$tag_ID = (int) $_REQUEST['tag_ID'];
 	check_admin_referer( 'delete-tag_' . $tag_ID );
 
-	if ( ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->delete_terms ) ) {
+	if ( ! current_user_can( 'delete_term', $tag_ID ) ) {
 		wp_die(
 			'<h1>' . __( 'Cheatin&#8217; uh?' ) . '</h1>' .
 			'<p>' . __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to delete this item.' ) . '</p>',
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
 	$tag_ID = (int) $_POST['tag_ID'];
 	check_admin_referer( 'update-tag_' . $tag_ID );
 
-	if ( ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
+	if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_term', $tag_ID ) ) {
 		wp_die(
 			'<h1>' . __( 'Cheatin&#8217; uh?' ) . '</h1>' .
 			'<p>' . __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to edit this item.' ) . '</p>',
@@ -313,14 +313,6 @@
 }
 
 require_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/admin-header.php' );
-
-if ( ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
-	wp_die(
-		'<h1>' . __( 'Cheatin&#8217; uh?' ) . '</h1>' .
-		'<p>' . __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to edit this item.' ) . '</p>',
-		403
-	);
-}
 
 /** Also used by the Edit Tag  form */
 require_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/edit-tag-messages.php' );
diff --git src/wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php src/wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php
index 561c37b..6e43384 100644
--- src/wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/ajax-actions.php
@@ -594,12 +594,11 @@
 	$tag_id = (int) $_POST['tag_ID'];
 	check_ajax_referer( "delete-tag_$tag_id" );
 
-	$taxonomy = !empty($_POST['taxonomy']) ? $_POST['taxonomy'] : 'post_tag';
-	$tax = get_taxonomy($taxonomy);
-
-	if ( !current_user_can( $tax->cap->delete_terms ) )
+	if ( ! current_user_can( 'delete_term', $tag_id ) ) {
 		wp_die( -1 );
+	}
 
+	$taxonomy = !empty($_POST['taxonomy']) ? $_POST['taxonomy'] : 'post_tag';
 	$tag = get_term( $tag_id, $taxonomy );
 	if ( !$tag || is_wp_error( $tag ) )
 		wp_die( 1 );
@@ -796,8 +795,10 @@
 	if ( empty( $action ) )
 		$action = 'add-link-category';
 	check_ajax_referer( $action );
-	if ( !current_user_can( 'manage_categories' ) )
+	$tax = get_taxonomy( 'link_category' );
+	if ( ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->manage_terms ) ) {
 		wp_die( -1 );
+	}
 	$names = explode(',', wp_unslash( $_POST['newcat'] ) );
 	$x = new WP_Ajax_Response();
 	foreach ( $names as $cat_name ) {
@@ -1703,13 +1704,15 @@
 	if ( ! $tax )
 		wp_die( 0 );
 
-	if ( ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) )
+	if ( ! isset( $_POST['tax_ID'] ) || ! ( $id = (int) $_POST['tax_ID'] ) ) {
 		wp_die( -1 );
+	}
+
+	if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_term', $id ) ) {
+		wp_die( -1 );
+	}
 
 	$wp_list_table = _get_list_table( 'WP_Terms_List_Table', array( 'screen' => 'edit-' . $taxonomy ) );
-
-	if ( ! isset($_POST['tax_ID']) || ! ( $id = (int) $_POST['tax_ID'] ) )
-		wp_die( -1 );
 
 	$tag = get_term( $id, $taxonomy );
 	$_POST['description'] = $tag->description;
diff --git src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php
index 6e9f9c6..aa3ac38 100644
--- src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php
@@ -151,7 +151,10 @@
 	 */
 	protected function get_bulk_actions() {
 		$actions = array();
-		$actions['delete'] = __( 'Delete' );
+
+		if ( current_user_can( get_taxonomy( $this->screen->taxonomy )->cap->delete_terms ) ) {
+			$actions['delete'] = __( 'Delete' );
+		}
 
 		return $actions;
 	}
@@ -332,11 +335,10 @@
 	 * @return string
 	 */
 	public function column_cb( $tag ) {
-		$default_term = get_option( 'default_' . $this->screen->taxonomy );
-
-		if ( current_user_can( get_taxonomy( $this->screen->taxonomy )->cap->delete_terms ) && $tag->term_id != $default_term )
+		if ( current_user_can( 'delete_term', $tag->term_id ) ) {
 			return '<label class="screen-reader-text" for="cb-select-' . $tag->term_id . '">' . sprintf( __( 'Select %s' ), $tag->name ) . '</label>'
 				. '<input type="checkbox" name="delete_tags[]" value="' . $tag->term_id . '" id="cb-select-' . $tag->term_id . '" />';
+		}
 
 		return '&nbsp;';
 	}
@@ -423,8 +425,6 @@
 
 		$taxonomy = $this->screen->taxonomy;
 		$tax = get_taxonomy( $taxonomy );
-		$default_term = get_option( 'default_' . $taxonomy );
-
 		$uri = wp_doing_ajax() ? wp_get_referer() : $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];
 
 		$edit_link = add_query_arg(
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@
 		);
 
 		$actions = array();
-		if ( current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
+		if ( current_user_can( 'edit_term', $tag->term_id ) ) {
 			$actions['edit'] = sprintf(
 				'<a href="%s" aria-label="%s">%s</a>',
 				esc_url( $edit_link ),
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@
 				__( 'Quick&nbsp;Edit' )
 			);
 		}
-		if ( current_user_can( $tax->cap->delete_terms ) && $tag->term_id != $default_term ) {
+		if ( current_user_can( 'delete_term', $tag->term_id ) ) {
 			$actions['delete'] = sprintf(
 				'<a href="%s" class="delete-tag aria-button-if-js" aria-label="%s">%s</a>',
 				wp_nonce_url( "edit-tags.php?action=delete&amp;taxonomy=$taxonomy&amp;tag_ID=$tag->term_id", 'delete-tag_' . $tag->term_id ),
diff --git src/wp-admin/includes/meta-boxes.php src/wp-admin/includes/meta-boxes.php
index 2d12faf..8a79c22 100644
--- src/wp-admin/includes/meta-boxes.php
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/meta-boxes.php
@@ -434,6 +434,8 @@
 		<input type="button" class="button tagadd" value="<?php esc_attr_e('Add'); ?>" /></p>
 	</div>
 	<p class="howto" id="new-tag-<?php echo $tax_name; ?>-desc"><?php echo $taxonomy->labels->separate_items_with_commas; ?></p>
+	<?php elseif ( empty( $terms_to_edit ) ): ?>
+		<p><?php echo $taxonomy->labels->no_terms; ?></p>
 	<?php endif; ?>
 	</div>
 	<div class="tagchecklist"></div>
diff --git src/wp-admin/term.php src/wp-admin/term.php
index dc3f1d5..2018ac0 100644
--- src/wp-admin/term.php
+++ src/wp-admin/term.php
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@
 $title    = $tax->labels->edit_item;
 
 if ( ! in_array( $taxonomy, get_taxonomies( array( 'show_ui' => true ) ) ) ||
-     ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->manage_terms )
+     ! current_user_can( 'edit_term', $tag->term_id )
 ) {
 	wp_die(
 		'<h1>' . __( 'Cheatin&#8217; uh?' ) . '</h1>' .
-		'<p>' . __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to manage this item.' ) . '</p>',
+		'<p>' . __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to edit this item.' ) . '</p>',
 		403
 	);
 }
diff --git src/wp-includes/admin-bar.php src/wp-includes/admin-bar.php
index 4c4765d..a1bef0d 100644
--- src/wp-includes/admin-bar.php
+++ src/wp-includes/admin-bar.php
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@
 			) );
 		} elseif ( ! empty( $current_object->taxonomy )
 			&& ( $tax = get_taxonomy( $current_object->taxonomy ) )
-			&& current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms )
+			&& current_user_can( 'edit_term', $current_object->term_id )
 			&& $edit_term_link = get_edit_term_link( $current_object->term_id, $current_object->taxonomy ) )
 		{
 			$wp_admin_bar->add_menu( array(
diff --git src/wp-includes/capabilities.php src/wp-includes/capabilities.php
index da54229..67a107b 100644
--- src/wp-includes/capabilities.php
+++ src/wp-includes/capabilities.php
@@ -402,6 +402,44 @@
 	case 'delete_site':
 		$caps[] = 'manage_options';
 		break;
+	case 'edit_term':
+	case 'delete_term':
+	case 'assign_term':
+		$term_id = $args[0];
+		$term = get_term( $term_id );
+		if ( ! $term || is_wp_error( $term ) ) {
+			$caps[] = 'do_not_allow';
+			break;
+		}
+
+		$tax = get_taxonomy( $term->taxonomy );
+		if ( ! $tax ) {
+			$caps[] = 'do_not_allow';
+			break;
+		}
+
+		if ( 'delete_term' === $cap && ( $term->term_id == get_option( 'default_' . $term->taxonomy ) ) ) {
+			$caps[] = 'do_not_allow';
+			break;
+		}
+
+		$taxo_cap = $cap . 's';
+
+		$caps = map_meta_cap( $tax->cap->$taxo_cap, $user_id, $term_id );
+
+		break;
+	case 'manage_categories':
+	case 'manage_post_tags':
+	case 'edit_categories':
+	case 'edit_post_tags':
+	case 'delete_categories':
+	case 'delete_post_tags':
+		$caps[] = 'manage_categories';
+		break;
+	case 'assign_categories':
+	case 'assign_post_tags':
+		$caps[] = 'edit_posts';
+		break;
 	default:
 		// Handle meta capabilities for custom post types.
 		global $post_type_meta_caps;
diff --git src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php
index b08347f..528c74b 100644
--- src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php
+++ src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php
@@ -1886,8 +1886,9 @@
 
 		$taxonomy = get_taxonomy( $content_struct['taxonomy'] );
 
-		if ( ! current_user_can( $taxonomy->cap->manage_terms ) )
+		if ( ! current_user_can( $taxonomy->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
 			return new IXR_Error( 401, __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to create terms in this taxonomy.' ) );
+		}
 
 		$taxonomy = (array) $taxonomy;
 
@@ -1973,9 +1974,6 @@
 
 		$taxonomy = get_taxonomy( $content_struct['taxonomy'] );
 
-		if ( ! current_user_can( $taxonomy->cap->edit_terms ) )
-			return new IXR_Error( 401, __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to edit terms in this taxonomy.' ) );
-
 		$taxonomy = (array) $taxonomy;
 
 		// hold the data of the term
@@ -1988,6 +1986,10 @@
 
 		if ( ! $term )
 			return new IXR_Error( 404, __( 'Invalid term ID.' ) );
+
+		if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_term', $term_id ) ) {
+			return new IXR_Error( 401, __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to edit this term.' ) );
+		}
 
 		if ( isset( $content_struct['name'] ) ) {
 			$term_data['name'] = trim( $content_struct['name'] );
@@ -2068,10 +2070,6 @@
 			return new IXR_Error( 403, __( 'Invalid taxonomy.' ) );
 
 		$taxonomy = get_taxonomy( $taxonomy );
-
-		if ( ! current_user_can( $taxonomy->cap->delete_terms ) )
-			return new IXR_Error( 401, __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to delete terms in this taxonomy.' ) );
-
 		$term = get_term( $term_id, $taxonomy->name );
 
 		if ( is_wp_error( $term ) )
@@ -2079,6 +2077,10 @@
 
 		if ( ! $term )
 			return new IXR_Error( 404, __( 'Invalid term ID.' ) );
+
+		if ( ! current_user_can( 'delete_term', $term_id ) ) {
+			return new IXR_Error( 401, __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to delete this term.' ) );
+		}
 
 		$result = wp_delete_term( $term_id, $taxonomy->name );
 
@@ -2140,9 +2142,6 @@
 
 		$taxonomy = get_taxonomy( $taxonomy );
 
-		if ( ! current_user_can( $taxonomy->cap->assign_terms ) )
-			return new IXR_Error( 401, __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to assign terms in this taxonomy.' ) );
-
 		$term = get_term( $term_id , $taxonomy->name, ARRAY_A );
 
 		if ( is_wp_error( $term ) )
@@ -2151,6 +2150,10 @@
 		if ( ! $term )
 			return new IXR_Error( 404, __( 'Invalid term ID.' ) );
 
+		if ( ! current_user_can( 'assign_term', $term_id ) ) {
+			return new IXR_Error( 401, __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to assign this term.' ) );
+		}
+
 		return $this->_prepare_term( $term );
 	}
 
diff --git src/wp-includes/link-template.php src/wp-includes/link-template.php
index 292c98c..c1ec8b3 100644
--- src/wp-includes/link-template.php
+++ src/wp-includes/link-template.php
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@
 	}
 
 	$tax = get_taxonomy( $term->taxonomy );
-	if ( ! $tax || ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
+	if ( ! $tax || ! current_user_can( 'edit_term', $term->term_id ) ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@
 		return;
 
 	$tax = get_taxonomy( $term->taxonomy );
-	if ( ! current_user_can( $tax->cap->edit_terms ) ) {
+	if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_term', $term->term_id ) ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
index 80e1f84..9266b95 100644
--- src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
+++ src/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@
 		'show_ui' => true,
 		'show_admin_column' => true,
 		'_builtin' => true,
+		'capabilities' => array(
+			'manage_terms' => 'manage_categories',
+			'edit_terms'   => 'edit_categories',
+			'delete_terms' => 'delete_categories',
+			'assign_terms' => 'assign_categories',
+		),
 	) );
 
 	register_taxonomy( 'post_tag', 'post', array(
@@ -71,6 +77,12 @@
 		'show_ui' => true,
 		'show_admin_column' => true,
 		'_builtin' => true,
+		'capabilities' => array(
+			'manage_terms' => 'manage_post_tags',
+			'edit_terms'   => 'edit_post_tags',
+			'delete_terms' => 'delete_post_tags',
+			'assign_terms' => 'assign_post_tags',
+		),
 	) );
 
 	register_taxonomy( 'nav_menu', 'nav_menu_item', array(
diff --git tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php
index 48de889..83d12a2 100644
--- tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php
+++ tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php
@@ -231,6 +231,15 @@
 			'customize'              => array( 'administrator' ),
 			'delete_site'            => array( 'administrator' ),
 			'add_users'              => array( 'administrator' ),
+
+			'edit_categories'        => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'delete_categories'      => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'manage_post_tags'       => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'edit_post_tags'         => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'delete_post_tags'       => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+
+			'assign_categories'      => array( 'administrator', 'editor', 'author', 'contributor' ),
+			'assign_post_tags'       => array( 'administrator', 'editor', 'author', 'contributor' ),
 		);
 	}
 
@@ -238,9 +247,19 @@
 		return array(
 			'upload_plugins'         => array(),
 			'upload_themes'          => array(),
+
 			'customize'              => array( 'administrator' ),
 			'delete_site'            => array( 'administrator' ),
 			'add_users'              => array( 'administrator' ),
+
+			'edit_categories'        => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'delete_categories'      => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'manage_post_tags'       => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'edit_post_tags'         => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+			'delete_post_tags'       => array( 'administrator', 'editor' ),
+
+			'assign_categories'      => array( 'administrator', 'editor', 'author', 'contributor' ),
+			'assign_post_tags'       => array( 'administrator', 'editor', 'author', 'contributor' ),
 		);
 	}
 
@@ -972,6 +991,63 @@
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @dataProvider dataTaxonomies
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 35614
+	 */
+	public function test_default_taxonomy_term_cannot_be_deleted( $taxonomy ) {
+		if ( ! taxonomy_exists( $taxonomy ) ) {
+			register_taxonomy( $taxonomy, 'post' );
+		}
+
+		$tax  = get_taxonomy( $taxonomy );
+		$user = self::$users['administrator'];
+		$term = self::factory()->term->create_and_get( array(
+			'taxonomy' => $taxonomy,
+		) );
+
+		update_option( "default_{$taxonomy}", $term->term_id );
+
+		$this->assertTrue( user_can( $user->ID, $tax->cap->delete_terms ) );
+		$this->assertFalse( user_can( $user->ID, 'delete_term', $term->term_id ) );
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * @dataProvider dataTaxonomies
+	 *
+	 * @ticket 35614
+	 */
+	public function test_taxonomy_caps_map_correctly_to_their_meta_cap( $taxonomy ) {
+		if ( ! taxonomy_exists( $taxonomy ) ) {
+			register_taxonomy( $taxonomy, 'post' );
+		}
+
+		$tax  = get_taxonomy( $taxonomy );
+		$term = self::factory()->term->create_and_get( array(
+			'taxonomy' => $taxonomy,
+		) );
+
+		foreach ( self::$users as $role => $user ) {
+			$this->assertSame(
+				user_can( $user->ID, 'edit_term', $term->term_id ),
+				user_can( $user->ID, $tax->cap->edit_terms ),
+				"Role: {$role}"
+			);
+			$this->assertSame(
+				user_can( $user->ID, 'delete_term', $term->term_id ),
+				user_can( $user->ID, $tax->cap->delete_terms ),
+				"Role: {$role}"
+			);
+			$this->assertSame(
+				user_can( $user->ID, 'assign_term', $term->term_id ),
+				user_can( $user->ID, $tax->cap->assign_terms ),
+				"Role: {$role}"
+			);
+		}
+
+	}
+
 	public function dataTaxonomies() {
 		return array(
 			array(
diff --git tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/deleteTerm.php tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/deleteTerm.php
index 6f738b1..1132095 100644
--- tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/deleteTerm.php
+++ tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/deleteTerm.php
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 		$result = $this->myxmlrpcserver->wp_deleteTerm( array( 1, 'subscriber', 'subscriber', 'category', $this->term['term_id'] ) );
 		$this->assertInstanceOf( 'IXR_Error', $result );
 		$this->assertEquals( 401, $result->code );
-		$this->assertEquals( __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to delete terms in this taxonomy.' ), $result->message );
+		$this->assertEquals( __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to delete this term.' ), $result->message );
 	}
 
 	function test_empty_term() {
diff --git tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/editTerm.php tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/editTerm.php
index af8bd0b..db14a68 100644
--- tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/editTerm.php
+++ tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/editTerm.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 		$result = $this->myxmlrpcserver->wp_editTerm( array( 1, 'subscriber', 'subscriber', $this->parent_term['term_id'], array( 'taxonomy' => 'category' ) ) );
 		$this->assertInstanceOf( 'IXR_Error', $result );
 		$this->assertEquals( 401, $result->code );
-		$this->assertEquals( __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to edit terms in this taxonomy.' ), $result->message );
+		$this->assertEquals( __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to edit this term.' ), $result->message );
 	}
 
 	function test_term_not_exists() {
diff --git tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getTerm.php tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getTerm.php
index 3e7257b..627a88d 100644
--- tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getTerm.php
+++ tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getTerm.php
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 		$result = $this->myxmlrpcserver->wp_getTerm( array( 1, 'subscriber', 'subscriber', 'category', $this->term['term_id'] ) );
 		$this->assertInstanceOf( 'IXR_Error', $result );
 		$this->assertEquals( 401, $result->code );
-		$this->assertEquals( __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to assign terms in this taxonomy.' ), $result->message );
+		$this->assertEquals( __( 'Sorry, you are not allowed to assign this term.' ), $result->message );
 	}
 
 
