A tape cutting device includes a device frame adapted to ride along a tape roll. A blade housing may be carried by the device frame. The blade housing may have a pair of spaced-apart tape roll guides and a blade space between the tape roll guides. A blade actuating panel may be pivotally carried by the device frame. A tape cutting blade having a tape cutting edge may be carried by the blade actuating panel. The tape cutting blade may be selectively deployable between a retracted blade position in the blade space and an extended blade position with respect to the blade space in which the tape cutting blade engages the tape roll responsive to pivoting of the blade actuating panel on the device frame. A retaining mechanism may be carried by the tape cutting unit. The retaining mechanism may be adapted to secure the tape cutting unit on the tape roll.