diff --git a/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1.rb b/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1.rb
index e63613f..1157c2f 100644
--- a/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1.rb
+++ b/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1.rb
@@ -119,12 +119,16 @@ def self.format_task_payload(payload)
         # Format dispatch_deadline to Google::Protobuf::Duration
         payload[:dispatch_deadline] = format_protobuf_duration(payload[:dispatch_deadline])
 
-        # Encode job content to support UTF-8. Google Cloud Task
-        # expect content to be ASCII-8BIT compatible (binary)
+        # Setup headers
         payload[:http_request][:headers] ||= {}
         payload[:http_request][:headers][Cloudtasker::Config::CONTENT_TYPE_HEADER] = 'text/json'
-        payload[:http_request][:headers][Cloudtasker::Config::ENCODING_HEADER] = 'Base64'
-        payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(payload[:http_request][:body])
+
+        # Conditionally encode job content to support UTF-8.
+        # Google Cloud Task expect content to be ASCII-8BIT compatible (binary)
+        if config.base64_encode_body
+          payload[:http_request][:headers][Cloudtasker::Config::ENCODING_HEADER] = 'Base64'
+          payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(payload[:http_request][:body])
+        end
 
         payload.compact
       end
diff --git a/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2.rb b/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2.rb
index e806dc1..ff01442 100644
--- a/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2.rb
+++ b/lib/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2.rb
@@ -121,12 +121,16 @@ def self.format_task_payload(payload)
         # Format dispatch_deadline to Google::Protobuf::Duration
         payload[:dispatch_deadline] = format_protobuf_duration(payload[:dispatch_deadline])
 
-        # Encode job content to support UTF-8.
-        # Google Cloud Task expect content to be ASCII-8BIT compatible (binary)
+        # Setup headers
         payload[:http_request][:headers] ||= {}
         payload[:http_request][:headers][Cloudtasker::Config::CONTENT_TYPE_HEADER] = 'text/json'
-        payload[:http_request][:headers][Cloudtasker::Config::ENCODING_HEADER] = 'Base64'
-        payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(payload[:http_request][:body])
+
+        # Conditionally encode job content to support UTF-8.
+        # Google Cloud Task expect content to be ASCII-8BIT compatible (binary)
+        if config.base64_encode_body
+          payload[:http_request][:headers][Cloudtasker::Config::ENCODING_HEADER] = 'Base64'
+          payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(payload[:http_request][:body])
+        end
 
         payload.compact
       end
diff --git a/lib/cloudtasker/config.rb b/lib/cloudtasker/config.rb
index a4e5298..0aabd11 100644
--- a/lib/cloudtasker/config.rb
+++ b/lib/cloudtasker/config.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ class Config
     attr_accessor :redis, :store_payloads_in_redis, :gcp_queue_prefix
     attr_writer :secret, :gcp_location_id, :gcp_project_id,
                 :processor_path, :logger, :mode, :max_retries,
-                :dispatch_deadline, :on_error, :on_dead, :oidc, :local_server_ssl_verify
+                :dispatch_deadline, :on_error, :on_dead, :oidc, :local_server_ssl_verify,
+                :base64_encode_body
 
     # Max Cloud Task size in bytes
     MAX_TASK_SIZE = 100 * 1024 # 100 KB
@@ -56,6 +57,9 @@ class Config
     # Default on_error Proc
     DEFAULT_ON_ERROR = ->(error, worker) {}
 
+    # Default base64 encoding flag
+    DEFAULT_BASE64_ENCODE_BODY = true
+
     # Cache key prefix used to store workers in cache and retrieve
     # them later.
     WORKER_STORE_PREFIX = 'worker_store'
@@ -301,5 +305,15 @@ def server_middleware
     def local_server_ssl_verify
       @local_server_ssl_verify.nil? ? DEFAULT_LOCAL_SERVER_SSL_VERIFY_MODE : @local_server_ssl_verify
     end
+
+    #
+    # Return whether to base64 encode the task body when sending to Cloud Tasks.
+    # Encoding is enabled by default to support UTF-8 content.
+    #
+    # @return [Boolean] Whether to base64 encode the body.
+    #
+    def base64_encode_body
+      @base64_encode_body.nil? ? DEFAULT_BASE64_ENCODE_BODY : @base64_encode_body
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1_spec.rb b/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1_spec.rb
index 17a336c..575cad0 100644
--- a/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v1_spec.rb
@@ -192,19 +192,39 @@
         payload[:schedule_time] = described_class.format_protobuf_time(arg_payload[:schedule_time])
         payload[:dispatch_deadline] = described_class.format_protobuf_duration(arg_payload[:dispatch_deadline])
         payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Type'] = 'text/json'
-        payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
-        payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(arg_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        if config.base64_encode_body
+          payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
+          payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(arg_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        end
         payload.compact
       end
 
-      context 'with defined keys' do
-        it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+      context 'with base64 encoding enabled' do
+        before { config.base64_encode_body = true }
+
+        context 'with defined keys' do
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
+
+        context 'with nil keys' do
+          let(:arg_payload) { job_payload.merge(some_nil_key: nil) }
+
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
       end
 
-      context 'with nil keys' do
-        let(:arg_payload) { job_payload.merge(some_nil_key: nil) }
+      context 'with base64 encoding disabled' do
+        before { config.base64_encode_body = false }
 
-        it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        context 'with defined keys' do
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
+
+        context 'with nil keys' do
+          let(:arg_payload) { job_payload.merge(some_nil_key: nil) }
+
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
       end
     end
 
@@ -255,8 +275,10 @@
         payload[:schedule_time] = described_class.format_protobuf_time(job_payload[:schedule_time])
         payload[:dispatch_deadline] = described_class.format_protobuf_duration(job_payload[:dispatch_deadline])
         payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Type'] = 'text/json'
-        payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
-        payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(job_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        if config.base64_encode_body
+          payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
+          payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(job_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        end
         payload
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2_spec.rb b/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2_spec.rb
index 362fd0f..16e876b 100644
--- a/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cloudtasker/backend/google_cloud_task_v2_spec.rb
@@ -204,19 +204,39 @@
         payload[:schedule_time] = described_class.format_protobuf_time(arg_payload[:schedule_time])
         payload[:dispatch_deadline] = described_class.format_protobuf_duration(arg_payload[:dispatch_deadline])
         payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Type'] = 'text/json'
-        payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
-        payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(arg_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        if config.base64_encode_body
+          payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
+          payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(arg_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        end
         payload.compact
       end
 
-      context 'with defined keys' do
-        it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+      context 'with base64 encoding enabled' do
+        before { config.base64_encode_body = true }
+
+        context 'with defined keys' do
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
+
+        context 'with nil keys' do
+          let(:arg_payload) { job_payload.merge(some_nil_key: nil) }
+
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
       end
 
-      context 'with nil keys' do
-        let(:arg_payload) { job_payload.merge(some_nil_key: nil) }
+      context 'with base64 encoding disabled' do
+        before { config.base64_encode_body = false }
 
-        it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        context 'with defined keys' do
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
+
+        context 'with nil keys' do
+          let(:arg_payload) { job_payload.merge(some_nil_key: nil) }
+
+          it { is_expected.to eq(expected_payload) }
+        end
       end
     end
 
@@ -267,8 +287,10 @@
         payload[:schedule_time] = described_class.format_protobuf_time(job_payload[:schedule_time])
         payload[:dispatch_deadline] = described_class.format_protobuf_duration(job_payload[:dispatch_deadline])
         payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Type'] = 'text/json'
-        payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
-        payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(job_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        if config.base64_encode_body
+          payload[:http_request][:headers]['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'Base64'
+          payload[:http_request][:body] = Base64.encode64(job_payload[:http_request][:body])
+        end
         payload
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/cloudtasker/config_spec.rb b/spec/cloudtasker/config_spec.rb
index e05b5a4..d0fce8f 100644
--- a/spec/cloudtasker/config_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/cloudtasker/config_spec.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
   let(:on_dead) { ->(e, w) {} }
   let(:oidc) { nil }
   let(:local_server_ssl_verify) { false }
+  let(:base64_encode_body) { true }
 
   let(:rails_hosts) { [] }
   let(:rails_secret) { 'rails_secret' }
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@
       c.on_dead = on_dead
       c.oidc = oidc
       c.local_server_ssl_verify = local_server_ssl_verify
+      c.base64_encode_body = base64_encode_body
     end
 
     Cloudtasker.config
@@ -337,6 +339,20 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe '#base64_encode_body' do
+    subject { config.base64_encode_body }
+
+    context 'with value specified via config' do
+      it { is_expected.to eq(base64_encode_body) }
+    end
+
+    context 'with no value' do
+      let(:base64_encode_body) { nil }
+
+      it { is_expected.to eq(described_class::DEFAULT_BASE64_ENCODE_BODY) }
+    end
+  end
+
   describe '#client_middleware' do
     subject(:middlewares) { config.client_middleware }