A native of Shehong County, Sichuan, Tao began his career in 1977 as the Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary of the Communist Youth League Chengdu Municipal Committee.
In 1986, Tao became the deputy secretary-general of the Chengdu Party Committee.
In 1996, he was appointed secretary-general of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee.
In 2000, Tao was appointed deputy Party Committee Secretary of Sichuan.
He became vice-chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 2007, and was elevated to the role of chairman the following year.