diff --git a/log4j-1.2-api/pom.xml b/log4j-1.2-api/pom.xml
index 03cc6ff..1ff88cb 100644
--- a/log4j-1.2-api/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-1.2-api/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-1.2-api</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-api-scala_2.10/pom.xml b/log4j-api-scala_2.10/pom.xml
index d6756cc..1459607 100644
--- a/log4j-api-scala_2.10/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-api-scala_2.10/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-api-scala_2.10</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-api-scala_2.11/pom.xml b/log4j-api-scala_2.11/pom.xml
index 668f42b..d0c72b2 100644
--- a/log4j-api-scala_2.11/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-api-scala_2.11/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-api-scala_2.11</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-api/pom.xml b/log4j-api/pom.xml
index 468fcd7..dccb9dd 100644
--- a/log4j-api/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-api/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-api</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-bom/pom.xml b/log4j-bom/pom.xml
index 44fde2e..73279c7 100644
--- a/log4j-bom/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-bom/pom.xml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
   <description>Apache Log4j Bill of Materials</description>
   <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
   <artifactId>log4j-bom</artifactId>
-  <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+  <version>2.8.1</version>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
   <dependencyManagement>
     <dependencies>
@@ -149,4 +149,8 @@
       </plugin>
     </plugins>
   </build>
+
+  <scm>
+    <tag>log4j-2.8.1-rc1</tag>
+  </scm>
 </project>
diff --git a/log4j-core/pom.xml b/log4j-core/pom.xml
index 734a4a9..c6ae980 100644
--- a/log4j-core/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-core/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-core</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-distribution/pom.xml b/log4j-distribution/pom.xml
index 2f26507..f2e0bcd 100644
--- a/log4j-distribution/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-distribution/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-distribution</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-flume-ng/pom.xml b/log4j-flume-ng/pom.xml
index 373c1b2..42c5dde 100644
--- a/log4j-flume-ng/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-flume-ng/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-flume-ng</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-iostreams/pom.xml b/log4j-iostreams/pom.xml
index 8038d67..680cf3d 100644
--- a/log4j-iostreams/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-iostreams/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-iostreams</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-jcl/pom.xml b/log4j-jcl/pom.xml
index 104657b..2c88973 100644
--- a/log4j-jcl/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-jcl/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-jcl</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-jmx-gui/pom.xml b/log4j-jmx-gui/pom.xml
index 586dfea..d830358 100644
--- a/log4j-jmx-gui/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-jmx-gui/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-jmx-gui</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-jul/pom.xml b/log4j-jul/pom.xml
index e580784..4e979aa 100644
--- a/log4j-jul/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-jul/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
diff --git a/log4j-liquibase/pom.xml b/log4j-liquibase/pom.xml
index c01f397..1d0fce3 100644
--- a/log4j-liquibase/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-liquibase/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-liquibase</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-nosql/pom.xml b/log4j-nosql/pom.xml
index 16a513f..3fda920 100644
--- a/log4j-nosql/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-nosql/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/log4j-osgi/pom.xml b/log4j-osgi/pom.xml
index 62762ea..197240f 100644
--- a/log4j-osgi/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-osgi/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-osgi</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-perf/pom.xml b/log4j-perf/pom.xml
index f827889..d847d9e 100644
--- a/log4j-perf/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-perf/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
 
diff --git a/log4j-samples/configuration/pom.xml b/log4j-samples/configuration/pom.xml
index 8735cb3..8924410 100644
--- a/log4j-samples/configuration/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-samples/configuration/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j-samples</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j.samples</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-samples-configuration</artifactId>
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
diff --git a/log4j-samples/flume-common/pom.xml b/log4j-samples/flume-common/pom.xml
index f9cbf99..98cab00 100644
--- a/log4j-samples/flume-common/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-samples/flume-common/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j-samples</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j.samples</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-samples-flume-common</artifactId>
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
diff --git a/log4j-samples/flume-embedded/pom.xml b/log4j-samples/flume-embedded/pom.xml
index 41bca3a..6954bf4 100644
--- a/log4j-samples/flume-embedded/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-samples/flume-embedded/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j-samples</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j.samples</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-samples-flume-embedded</artifactId>
   <packaging>war</packaging>
diff --git a/log4j-samples/flume-remote/pom.xml b/log4j-samples/flume-remote/pom.xml
index a83a406..feb04d2 100644
--- a/log4j-samples/flume-remote/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-samples/flume-remote/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j-samples</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j.samples</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-samples-flume-remote</artifactId>
   <packaging>war</packaging>
diff --git a/log4j-samples/loggerProperties/pom.xml b/log4j-samples/loggerProperties/pom.xml
index 05a6f9e..b9b2bf6 100644
--- a/log4j-samples/loggerProperties/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-samples/loggerProperties/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j-samples</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j.samples</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-samples-loggerProperties</artifactId>
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
diff --git a/log4j-samples/pom.xml b/log4j-samples/pom.xml
index b04d6f7..c46d113 100644
--- a/log4j-samples/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-samples/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j.samples</groupId>
diff --git a/log4j-samples/scala-api/pom.xml b/log4j-samples/scala-api/pom.xml
index aa7bdcb..5cc615f 100644
--- a/log4j-samples/scala-api/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-samples/scala-api/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j-samples</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j.samples</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-samples-scala-api</artifactId>
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
diff --git a/log4j-slf4j-impl/pom.xml b/log4j-slf4j-impl/pom.xml
index d111c3f..3cad2dc 100644
--- a/log4j-slf4j-impl/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-slf4j-impl/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-slf4j-impl</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-taglib/pom.xml b/log4j-taglib/pom.xml
index e27db58..94127ec 100644
--- a/log4j-taglib/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-taglib/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-taglib</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-to-slf4j/pom.xml b/log4j-to-slf4j/pom.xml
index 5352d85..a51bde8 100644
--- a/log4j-to-slf4j/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-to-slf4j/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
     <relativePath>../</relativePath>
   </parent>
   <artifactId>log4j-to-slf4j</artifactId>
diff --git a/log4j-web/pom.xml b/log4j-web/pom.xml
index 792a601..186b0e8 100644
--- a/log4j-web/pom.xml
+++ b/log4j-web/pom.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   <parent>
     <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging.log4j</groupId>
-    <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+    <version>2.8.1</version>
   </parent>
   <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index f96fa72..4c26c15 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
   <artifactId>log4j</artifactId>
   <packaging>pom</packaging>
   <name>Apache Log4j 2</name>
-  <version>2.8.1-SNAPSHOT</version>
+  <version>2.8.1</version>
   <parent>
     <groupId>org.apache.logging</groupId>
     <artifactId>logging-parent</artifactId>
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
     <connection>scm:git:https://git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf/logging-log4j2.git</connection>
     <developerConnection>scm:git:https://git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf/logging-log4j2.git</developerConnection>
     <url>https://git-wip-us.apache.org/repos/asf?p=logging-log4j2.git;a=summary</url>
-    <tag>log4j-${Log4jReleaseVersion}</tag>
+    <tag>log4j-2.8.1-rc1</tag>
   </scm>
   <properties>
     <!-- make sure to update these for each release! -->