diff --git a/HLTrigger/Configuration/python/customizeHLTforCMSSW.py b/HLTrigger/Configuration/python/customizeHLTforCMSSW.py
index a8f5f294d5470..59bc86e9b0a53 100644
--- a/HLTrigger/Configuration/python/customizeHLTforCMSSW.py
+++ b/HLTrigger/Configuration/python/customizeHLTforCMSSW.py
@@ -49,6 +49,17 @@ def customiseFor17792(process):
             producer.produceSeedStopReasons = cms.bool(False)
     return process
 
+# Add new parameters required by RecoTauBuilderConePlugin
+def customiseFor18429(process):
+     for producer in producers_by_type(process, "RecoTauProducer"):
+          if hasattr(producer,'builders'):
+               for pset in producer.builders:
+                    if not hasattr(pset,'minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone'):
+                         pset.minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone = cms.double(2.5)
+                    if not hasattr(pset,'minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone'):
+                         pset.minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone = cms.double(0.10)
+    return process
+
 # CMSSW version specific customizations
 def customizeHLTforCMSSW(process, menuType="GRun"):
     # add call to action function in proper order: newest last!
@@ -56,5 +67,6 @@ def customizeHLTforCMSSW(process, menuType="GRun"):
     process = customiseFor17771(process)
     process = customiseFor17792(process)
     process = customiseFor17794(process)
+    process = customiseFor18429(process)
 
     return process
diff --git a/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/plugins/RecoTauBuilderConePlugin.cc b/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/plugins/RecoTauBuilderConePlugin.cc
index 72e5192a57e87..fcb5486661a1f 100644
--- a/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/plugins/RecoTauBuilderConePlugin.cc
+++ b/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/plugins/RecoTauBuilderConePlugin.cc
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ class RecoTauBuilderConePlugin : public RecoTauBuilderPlugin {
     JetFunc isoConeNeutralHadrons_;
 
     int maxSignalConeChargedHadrons_;
+    double minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_;
+    double minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_;
 
     void setTauQuantities(reco::PFTau& aTau,
 			  double minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone = 2.5,
@@ -93,7 +95,12 @@ RecoTauBuilderConePlugin::RecoTauBuilderConePlugin(
     isoConeNeutralHadrons_(
         pset.getParameter<std::string>("isoConeNeutralHadrons")), 
     maxSignalConeChargedHadrons_(
-        pset.getParameter<int>("maxSignalConeChargedHadrons")) 				 
+        pset.getParameter<int>("maxSignalConeChargedHadrons")),
+    minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_(
+        pset.getParameter<double>("minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone")),
+    minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_(
+	pset.getParameter<double>("minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone"))
+
 {}
 
 namespace xclean 
@@ -192,11 +199,10 @@ RecoTauBuilderConePlugin::return_type RecoTauBuilderConePlugin::operator()(
 
   // Our tau builder - the true indicates to automatically copy gamma candidates
   // from the pizeros.
-  double minAbsPhotonPt_inSignalCone=2.5, minRelPhotonPt_inSignalCone=0.1;//MB: sensible defults to set a DM hypothesis
   RecoTauConstructor tau(jet, getPFCands(), true, 
 			 &signalConeSizeToStore_, 
-			 minAbsPhotonPt_inSignalCone, 
-			 minRelPhotonPt_inSignalCone);
+			 minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_, 
+			 minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_);
   // Setup our quality cuts to use the current vertex (supplied by base class)
   qcuts_.setPV(primaryVertex(jet));
 
@@ -458,8 +464,8 @@ RecoTauBuilderConePlugin::return_type RecoTauBuilderConePlugin::operator()(
 
   // Set missing tau quantities
   setTauQuantities(*tauPtr,
-  		   minAbsPhotonPt_inSignalCone,
-  		   minRelPhotonPt_inSignalCone
+  		   minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_,
+  		   minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone_
 		   );
 
   output.push_back(tauPtr);
diff --git a/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauFixedConeProducer_cfi.py b/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauFixedConeProducer_cfi.py
index 4f2fbe5532454..a7b79e2e1cf09 100644
--- a/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauFixedConeProducer_cfi.py
+++ b/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauFixedConeProducer_cfi.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 
 _fixedConeRecoTausConfig = cms.PSet(
     name = cms.string("fixedCone"),
-    useClosestPV = cms.bool(False),
     qualityCuts = PFTauQualityCuts,
     # If true, consider PFLeptons (e/mu) as charged hadrons.
     usePFLeptons = cms.bool(True),
@@ -27,7 +26,9 @@
     isoConePiZeros = cms.string('0.4'),
     signalConeNeutralHadrons = cms.string('0.10'),
     isoConeNeutralHadrons = cms.string('0.4'),
-    maxSignalConeChargedHadrons = cms.int32(-1) # CV: upper limit on number of signalConeChargedHadrons disabled per default
+    maxSignalConeChargedHadrons = cms.int32(-1), # CV: upper limit on number of signalConeChargedHadrons disabled per default
+    minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone = cms.double(2.5),
+    minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone = cms.double(0.10)
 )
 
 fixedConeRecoTaus = shrinkingConeRecoTaus.clone(
diff --git a/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauShrinkingConeProducer_cfi.py b/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauShrinkingConeProducer_cfi.py
index 993a5361e05d5..4b277aa215104 100644
--- a/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauShrinkingConeProducer_cfi.py
+++ b/RecoTauTag/RecoTau/python/RecoTauShrinkingConeProducer_cfi.py
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@
     isoConePiZeros = cms.string('0.4'),
     signalConeNeutralHadrons = cms.string('0.15'),
     isoConeNeutralHadrons = cms.string('0.4'),
-    maxSignalConeChargedHadrons = cms.int32(-1) # CV: upper limit on number of signalConeChargedHadrons disabled per default
+    maxSignalConeChargedHadrons = cms.int32(-1), # CV: upper limit on number of signalConeChargedHadrons disabled per default
+    minAbsPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone = cms.double(2.5),
+    minRelPhotonSumPt_insideSignalCone = cms.double(0.10)
 )
 
 shrinkingConeRecoTaus = combinatoricRecoTaus.clone(