The defection of Taras set off a string of revolts, including Metapontion, Heraclea and Thurii. Unfortunately, the sources for the Tarentine revolt contain a certain amount of confusion. Polybius' full narrative of the Tarentine revolt (8.24–34) is located in a fragmentary book and lacks reference to specific dates. Livy's fuller account (25.7.10–11.20) places the revolt after the beginning of the consular year 212 (25.3.1) and possibly before 26 April 212 (25.12.1). He also states, however, that most of his sources dated the event to 212, but some placed it in 213 (25.11.20). He later mentions that the Roman garrison commander in Taras held the citadel for five years (27.25.4), and since the city was recaptured in 209 (27.12.1–3, 27.15.4–16.9), this also suggests that the revolt fell in 213. Appian (Hann. 35) also implies that Taras revolted in 213, placing it in the year before Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus died, which occurred in 212 (Liv. 25.16). Polybius' Book 8 covered Olympic years 141.1–141.4, which included both the consular years 214/13 and 213/12. Hannibal besieged the citadel of Taras during the winter (Polyb. 8.34.13), and he probably captured it sometime late in winter.

It is possible that (a) he captured Taras in the winter of 213/12 but before the beginning of consular year (15 March) 212/11, or (b) if the Roman calendar was running about a month ahead of the solar calendar and 15 March (Roman) fell around 15 February (solar), then Taras could have fallen just after the start of the consular year 213 but still late in the winter season.