Drywall tape required for patch to small hole?
A hole that size should be taped to prevent cracking. You don't need to use tape though. Another method uses the patch piece of drywall's paper:


Square the opening to be patched.
Cut a pice of drywall about 4" x 4" larger then the hole.
Score the back side of the patch piece of drywall along lines 1 &amp; 2, about 2" in from the end.
Place the drywall face down on a table, lining up the score line with the edge of the table and snap it along the line.
Repeat steps 3 &amp; 4 for score lines 3 &amp; 4.
Peal the outer edges of the drywall off leaving just the front paper so that your pice looks like fig 2.
Place the patch pice over the hole and mud.