diff --git a/doc/pending.txt b/doc/pending.txt
index 914644e..2465ba3 100644
--- a/doc/pending.txt
+++ b/doc/pending.txt
@@ -504,6 +504,11 @@ token, the `D` prompt, and `:Pending add`.
     `soy` / `eoy`       January 1 / December 31 of current year
     `later` / `someday`  Sentinel date (default: `9999-12-30`)
 
+Custom formats: ~                                     *pending-dates-custom*
+Additional input formats can be configured via `input_date_formats` in
+|pending-config|. They are tried in order after all built-in keywords fail.
+See |pending-input-formats| for supported specifiers and examples.
+
 Time suffix: ~                                             *pending-dates-time*
 Any named date or absolute date accepts an `@` time suffix. Supported
 formats: `HH:MM` (24h), `H:MM`, bare hour (`9`, `14`), and am/pm
@@ -636,6 +641,23 @@ Fields: ~
                          virtual text in the buffer. Examples: `'%Y-%m-%d'`
                          for ISO dates, `'%d %b'` for day-first.
 
+    {input_date_formats} (string[], default: {})         *pending-input-formats*
+                         List of strftime-like format strings tried in order
+                         when parsing a `due:` token that does not match the
+                         built-in keywords or ISO `YYYY-MM-DD` format.
+                         Specifiers supported: `%Y` (4-digit year), `%y`
+                         (2-digit year, 00–69 → 2000s, 70–99 → 1900s), `%m`
+                         (numeric month), `%d` / `%e` (day), `%b` / `%B`
+                         (abbreviated or full month name, case-insensitive).
+                         When no year specifier is present the current year is
+                         used, advancing to next year if the date has already
+                         passed. Examples: >lua
+                             input_date_formats = {
+                               '%m/%d/%Y',   -- 03/15/2026
+                               '%d-%b-%Y',   -- 15-Mar-2026
+                               '%m/%d',      -- 03/15 (year inferred)
+                             }
+<
     {date_syntax}        (string, default: 'due')
                          The token name for inline due-date metadata. Change
                          this to use a different keyword, for example `'by'`
diff --git a/lua/pending/config.lua b/lua/pending/config.lua
index f488e41..592ef67 100644
--- a/lua/pending/config.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/config.lua
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 ---@field date_syntax string
 ---@field recur_syntax string
 ---@field someday_date string
+---@field input_date_formats? string[]
 ---@field category_order? string[]
 ---@field drawer_height? integer
 ---@field debug? boolean
diff --git a/lua/pending/diff.lua b/lua/pending/diff.lua
index 7ebbfe1..5df332f 100644
--- a/lua/pending/diff.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/diff.lua
@@ -121,17 +121,19 @@ function M.apply(lines, s, hidden_ids)
           task.priority = entry.priority
           changed = true
         end
-        if task.due ~= entry.due then
+        if entry.due ~= nil and task.due ~= entry.due then
           task.due = entry.due
           changed = true
         end
-        if task.recur ~= entry.rec then
-          task.recur = entry.rec
-          changed = true
-        end
-        if task.recur_mode ~= entry.rec_mode then
-          task.recur_mode = entry.rec_mode
-          changed = true
+        if entry.rec ~= nil then
+          if task.recur ~= entry.rec then
+            task.recur = entry.rec
+            changed = true
+          end
+          if task.recur_mode ~= entry.rec_mode then
+            task.recur_mode = entry.rec_mode
+            changed = true
+          end
         end
         if entry.status and task.status ~= entry.status then
           task.status = entry.status
diff --git a/lua/pending/health.lua b/lua/pending/health.lua
index d3dbe2c..f819269 100644
--- a/lua/pending/health.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/health.lua
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ function M.check()
     return
   end
 
-  local cfg = config.get()
+  config.get()
   vim.health.ok('Config loaded')
 
   local store_ok, store = pcall(require, 'pending.store')
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ function M.check()
 
   local resolved_path = store.resolve_path()
   vim.health.info('Store path: ' .. resolved_path)
-  if resolved_path ~= cfg.data_path then
-    vim.health.info('(project-local store; global path: ' .. cfg.data_path .. ')')
-  end
 
   if vim.fn.filereadable(resolved_path) == 1 then
     local s = store.new(resolved_path)
diff --git a/lua/pending/init.lua b/lua/pending/init.lua
index a83692d..1e05c36 100644
--- a/lua/pending/init.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/init.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 local buffer = require('pending.buffer')
 local diff = require('pending.diff')
+local log = require('pending.log')
 local parse = require('pending.parse')
 local store = require('pending.store')
 
@@ -328,12 +329,7 @@ function M._setup_buf_mappings(bufnr)
 
   for name, fn in pairs(motions) do
     local key = km[name]
-    if cfg.debug then
-      vim.notify(
-        ('[pending] mapping motion %s → %s (buf=%d)'):format(name, key or 'nil', bufnr),
-        vim.log.levels.INFO
-      )
-    end
+    log.debug(('mapping motion %s → %s (buf=%d)'):format(name, key or 'nil', bufnr))
     if key and key ~= false then
       vim.keymap.set({ 'n', 'x', 'o' }, key --[[@as string]], function()
         fn(vim.v.count1)
@@ -377,7 +373,7 @@ function M.undo_write()
   local s = get_store()
   local stack = s:undo_stack()
   if #stack == 0 then
-    vim.notify('Nothing to undo.', vim.log.levels.WARN)
+    log.warn('Nothing to undo.')
     return
   end
   local state = table.remove(stack)
@@ -494,7 +490,7 @@ function M.prompt_date()
         not due:match('^%d%d%d%d%-%d%d%-%d%d$')
         and not due:match('^%d%d%d%d%-%d%d%-%d%dT%d%d:%d%d$')
       then
-        vim.notify('Invalid date format. Use YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+        log.error('Invalid date format. Use YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm.')
         return
       end
     end
@@ -508,14 +504,14 @@ end
 ---@return nil
 function M.add(text)
   if not text or text == '' then
-    vim.notify('Usage: :Pending add <description>', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('Usage: :Pending add <description>')
     return
   end
   local s = get_store()
   s:load()
   local description, metadata = parse.command_add(text)
   if not description or description == '' then
-    vim.notify('Pending must have a description.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('Pending must have a description.')
     return
   end
   s:add({
@@ -530,7 +526,7 @@ function M.add(text)
   if bufnr and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(bufnr) then
     buffer.render(bufnr)
   end
-  vim.notify('Pending added: ' .. description)
+  log.info('Pending added: ' .. description)
 end
 
 ---@type string[]
@@ -548,7 +544,7 @@ end
 local function run_sync(backend_name, action)
   local ok, backend = pcall(require, 'pending.sync.' .. backend_name)
   if not ok then
-    vim.notify('Unknown sync backend: ' .. backend_name, vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('Unknown sync backend: ' .. backend_name)
     return
   end
   if not action or action == '' then
@@ -559,11 +555,11 @@ local function run_sync(backend_name, action)
       end
     end
     table.sort(actions)
-    vim.notify(backend_name .. ' actions: ' .. table.concat(actions, ', '), vim.log.levels.INFO)
+    log.info(backend_name .. ' actions: ' .. table.concat(actions, ', '))
     return
   end
   if type(backend[action]) ~= 'function' then
-    vim.notify(backend_name .. " backend has no '" .. action .. "' action", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error(backend_name .. " backend has no '" .. action .. "' action")
     return
   end
   backend[action]()
@@ -601,7 +597,7 @@ function M.archive(days)
   end
   s:replace_tasks(kept)
   _save_and_notify()
-  vim.notify('Archived ' .. archived .. ' tasks.')
+  log.info('Archived ' .. archived .. ' tasks.')
   local bufnr = buffer.bufnr()
   if bufnr and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(bufnr) then
     buffer.render(bufnr)
@@ -653,7 +649,7 @@ function M.due()
   end
 
   if #qf_items == 0 then
-    vim.notify('No due or overdue tasks.')
+    log.info('No due or overdue tasks.')
     return
   end
 
@@ -740,16 +736,15 @@ end
 ---@return nil
 function M.edit(id_str, rest)
   if not id_str or id_str == '' then
-    vim.notify(
-      'Usage: :Pending edit <id> [due:<date>] [cat:<name>] [rec:<pattern>] [+!] [-!] [-due] [-cat] [-rec]',
-      vim.log.levels.ERROR
+    log.error(
+      'Usage: :Pending edit <id> [due:<date>] [cat:<name>] [rec:<pattern>] [+!] [-!] [-due] [-cat] [-rec]'
     )
     return
   end
 
   local id = tonumber(id_str)
   if not id then
-    vim.notify('Invalid task ID: ' .. id_str, vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('Invalid task ID: ' .. id_str)
     return
   end
 
@@ -757,14 +752,13 @@ function M.edit(id_str, rest)
   s:load()
   local task = s:get(id)
   if not task then
-    vim.notify('No task with ID ' .. id .. '.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('No task with ID ' .. id .. '.')
     return
   end
 
   if not rest or rest == '' then
-    vim.notify(
-      'Usage: :Pending edit <id> [due:<date>] [cat:<name>] [rec:<pattern>] [+!] [-!] [-due] [-cat] [-rec]',
-      vim.log.levels.ERROR
+    log.error(
+      'Usage: :Pending edit <id> [due:<date>] [cat:<name>] [rec:<pattern>] [+!] [-!] [-due] [-cat] [-rec]'
     )
     return
   end
@@ -780,7 +774,7 @@ function M.edit(id_str, rest)
   for _, tok in ipairs(tokens) do
     local field, value, err = parse_edit_token(tok)
     if err then
-      vim.notify(err, vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+      log.error(err)
       return
     end
     if field == 'recur' then
@@ -831,20 +825,7 @@ function M.edit(id_str, rest)
     buffer.render(bufnr)
   end
 
-  vim.notify('Task #' .. id .. ' updated: ' .. table.concat(feedback, ', '))
-end
-
----@return nil
-function M.init()
-  local path = vim.fn.getcwd() .. '/.pending.json'
-  if vim.fn.filereadable(path) == 1 then
-    vim.notify('pending.nvim: .pending.json already exists', vim.log.levels.WARN)
-    return
-  end
-  local s = store.new(path)
-  s:load()
-  s:save()
-  vim.notify('pending.nvim: created ' .. path)
+  log.info('Task #' .. id .. ' updated: ' .. table.concat(feedback, ', '))
 end
 
 ---@param args string
@@ -872,10 +853,8 @@ function M.command(args)
     M.filter(rest)
   elseif cmd == 'undo' then
     M.undo_write()
-  elseif cmd == 'init' then
-    M.init()
   else
-    vim.notify('Unknown Pending subcommand: ' .. cmd, vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('Unknown Pending subcommand: ' .. cmd)
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/pending/log.lua b/lua/pending/log.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f37c4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/pending/log.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+---@class pending.log
+local M = {}
+
+local PREFIX = '[pending.nvim]: '
+
+---@param msg string
+function M.info(msg)
+  vim.notify(PREFIX .. msg)
+end
+
+---@param msg string
+function M.warn(msg)
+  vim.notify(PREFIX .. msg, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+end
+
+---@param msg string
+function M.error(msg)
+  vim.notify(PREFIX .. msg, vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+end
+
+---@param msg string
+---@param override? boolean
+function M.debug(msg, override)
+  local cfg = require('pending.config').get()
+  if cfg.debug or override then
+    vim.notify(PREFIX .. msg, vim.log.levels.DEBUG)
+  end
+end
+
+return M
diff --git a/lua/pending/parse.lua b/lua/pending/parse.lua
index 9ce4c0d..3e90b65 100644
--- a/lua/pending/parse.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/parse.lua
@@ -151,6 +151,105 @@ local function append_time(date_part, time_suffix)
   return date_part
 end
 
+---@param name string
+---@return integer?
+local function month_name_to_num(name)
+  return month_map[name:lower():sub(1, 3)]
+end
+
+---@param fmt string
+---@return string, string[]
+local function input_format_to_pattern(fmt)
+  local fields = {}
+  local parts = {}
+  local i = 1
+  while i <= #fmt do
+    local c = fmt:sub(i, i)
+    if c == '%' and i < #fmt then
+      local spec = fmt:sub(i + 1, i + 1)
+      if spec == '%' then
+        parts[#parts + 1] = '%%'
+        i = i + 2
+      elseif spec == 'Y' then
+        fields[#fields + 1] = 'year'
+        parts[#parts + 1] = '(%d%d%d%d)'
+        i = i + 2
+      elseif spec == 'y' then
+        fields[#fields + 1] = 'year2'
+        parts[#parts + 1] = '(%d%d)'
+        i = i + 2
+      elseif spec == 'm' then
+        fields[#fields + 1] = 'month_num'
+        parts[#parts + 1] = '(%d%d?)'
+        i = i + 2
+      elseif spec == 'd' or spec == 'e' then
+        fields[#fields + 1] = 'day'
+        parts[#parts + 1] = '(%d%d?)'
+        i = i + 2
+      elseif spec == 'b' or spec == 'B' then
+        fields[#fields + 1] = 'month_name'
+        parts[#parts + 1] = '(%a+)'
+        i = i + 2
+      else
+        parts[#parts + 1] = vim.pesc(c)
+        i = i + 1
+      end
+    else
+      parts[#parts + 1] = vim.pesc(c)
+      i = i + 1
+    end
+  end
+  return '^' .. table.concat(parts) .. '$', fields
+end
+
+---@param date_input string
+---@param time_suffix? string
+---@return string?
+local function try_input_date_formats(date_input, time_suffix)
+  local fmts = config.get().input_date_formats
+  if not fmts or #fmts == 0 then
+    return nil
+  end
+  local today = os.date('*t') --[[@as osdate]]
+  for _, fmt in ipairs(fmts) do
+    local pat, fields = input_format_to_pattern(fmt)
+    local caps = { date_input:match(pat) }
+    if caps[1] ~= nil then
+      local year, month, day
+      for j = 1, #fields do
+        local field = fields[j]
+        local val = caps[j]
+        if field == 'year' then
+          year = tonumber(val)
+        elseif field == 'year2' then
+          local y = tonumber(val) --[[@as integer]]
+          year = y + (y >= 70 and 1900 or 2000)
+        elseif field == 'month_num' then
+          month = tonumber(val)
+        elseif field == 'day' then
+          day = tonumber(val)
+        elseif field == 'month_name' then
+          month = month_name_to_num(val)
+        end
+      end
+      if month and day then
+        if not year then
+          year = today.year
+          if month < today.month or (month == today.month and day < today.day) then
+            year = year + 1
+          end
+        end
+        local t = os.time({ year = year, month = month, day = day })
+        local check = os.date('*t', t) --[[@as osdate]]
+        if check.year == year and check.month == month and check.day == day then
+          return append_time(os.date('%Y-%m-%d', t) --[[@as string]], time_suffix)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  return nil
+end
+
 ---@param text string
 ---@return string|nil
 function M.resolve_date(text)
@@ -411,7 +510,7 @@ function M.resolve_date(text)
     )
   end
 
-  return nil
+  return try_input_date_formats(date_input, time_suffix)
 end
 
 ---@param text string
diff --git a/lua/pending/store.lua b/lua/pending/store.lua
index 5a5b370..ff68525 100644
--- a/lua/pending/store.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/store.lua
@@ -384,14 +384,6 @@ end
 
 ---@return string
 function M.resolve_path()
-  local results = vim.fs.find('.pending.json', {
-    upward = true,
-    path = vim.fn.getcwd(),
-    type = 'file',
-  })
-  if results and #results > 0 then
-    return results[1]
-  end
   return config.get().data_path
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua b/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua
index 44f7742..2ae5e05 100644
--- a/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/sync/gcal.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local config = require('pending.config')
+local log = require('pending.log')
 local oauth = require('pending.sync.oauth')
 
 local M = {}
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ function M.push()
 
     local calendars, cal_err = get_all_calendars(access_token)
     if cal_err or not calendars then
-      vim.notify('pending.nvim: ' .. (cal_err or 'failed to fetch calendars'), vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+      log.error(cal_err or 'failed to fetch calendars')
       return
     end
 
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ function M.push()
         local del_err =
           delete_event(access_token, cal_id --[[@as string]], event_id --[[@as string]])
         if del_err then
-          vim.notify('pending.nvim: gcal delete failed: ' .. del_err, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+          log.warn('gcal delete failed: ' .. del_err)
         else
           extra['_gcal_event_id'] = nil
           extra['_gcal_calendar_id'] = nil
@@ -189,21 +190,18 @@ function M.push()
         if event_id and cal_id then
           local upd_err = update_event(access_token, cal_id, event_id, task)
           if upd_err then
-            vim.notify('pending.nvim: gcal update failed: ' .. upd_err, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+            log.warn('gcal update failed: ' .. upd_err)
           else
             updated = updated + 1
           end
         else
           local lid, lid_err = find_or_create_calendar(access_token, cat, calendars)
           if lid_err or not lid then
-            vim.notify(
-              'pending.nvim: gcal calendar failed: ' .. (lid_err or 'unknown'),
-              vim.log.levels.WARN
-            )
+            log.warn('gcal calendar failed: ' .. (lid_err or 'unknown'))
           else
             local new_id, create_err = create_event(access_token, lid, task)
             if create_err then
-              vim.notify('pending.nvim: gcal create failed: ' .. create_err, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+              log.warn('gcal create failed: ' .. create_err)
             elseif new_id then
               if not task._extra then
                 task._extra = {}
@@ -224,14 +222,7 @@ function M.push()
     if buffer.bufnr() and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(buffer.bufnr()) then
       buffer.render(buffer.bufnr())
     end
-    vim.notify(
-      string.format(
-        'pending.nvim: Google Calendar pushed — +%d ~%d -%d',
-        created,
-        updated,
-        deleted
-      )
-    )
+    log.info(string.format('Google Calendar pushed — +%d ~%d -%d', created, updated, deleted))
   end)
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/pending/sync/gtasks.lua b/lua/pending/sync/gtasks.lua
index a046a51..f627eb7 100644
--- a/lua/pending/sync/gtasks.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/sync/gtasks.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local config = require('pending.config')
+local log = require('pending.log')
 local oauth = require('pending.sync.oauth')
 
 local M = {}
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ local function push_pass(access_token, tasklists, s, now_ts, by_gtasks_id)
     if task.status == 'deleted' and gtid and list_id then
       local err = delete_gtask(access_token, list_id, gtid)
       if err then
-        vim.notify('pending.nvim: gtasks delete failed: ' .. err, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+        log.warn('gtasks delete failed: ' .. err)
       else
         if not task._extra then
           task._extra = {}
@@ -265,7 +266,7 @@ local function push_pass(access_token, tasklists, s, now_ts, by_gtasks_id)
       if gtid and list_id then
         local err = update_gtask(access_token, list_id, gtid, task_to_gtask(task))
         if err then
-          vim.notify('pending.nvim: gtasks update failed: ' .. err, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+          log.warn('gtasks update failed: ' .. err)
         else
           updated = updated + 1
         end
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@ local function push_pass(access_token, tasklists, s, now_ts, by_gtasks_id)
         if not err and lid then
           local new_id, create_err = create_gtask(access_token, lid, task_to_gtask(task))
           if create_err then
-            vim.notify('pending.nvim: gtasks create failed: ' .. create_err, vim.log.levels.WARN)
+            log.warn('gtasks create failed: ' .. create_err)
           elseif new_id then
             if not task._extra then
               task._extra = {}
@@ -305,10 +306,7 @@ local function pull_pass(access_token, tasklists, s, now_ts, by_gtasks_id)
   for list_name, list_id in pairs(tasklists) do
     local items, err = list_gtasks(access_token, list_id)
     if err then
-      vim.notify(
-        'pending.nvim: error fetching list ' .. list_name .. ': ' .. err,
-        vim.log.levels.WARN
-      )
+      log.warn('error fetching list ' .. list_name .. ': ' .. err)
     else
       for _, gtask in ipairs(items or {}) do
         local local_task = by_gtasks_id[gtask.id]
@@ -350,7 +348,7 @@ local function sync_setup()
   end
   local tasklists, tl_err = get_all_tasklists(access_token)
   if tl_err or not tasklists then
-    vim.notify('pending.nvim: ' .. (tl_err or 'failed to fetch task lists'), vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error(tl_err or 'failed to fetch task lists')
     return nil
   end
   local s = require('pending').store()
@@ -379,9 +377,7 @@ function M.push()
     if buffer.bufnr() and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(buffer.bufnr()) then
       buffer.render(buffer.bufnr())
     end
-    vim.notify(
-      string.format('pending.nvim: Google Tasks pushed — +%d ~%d -%d', created, updated, deleted)
-    )
+    log.info(string.format('Google Tasks pushed — +%d ~%d -%d', created, updated, deleted))
   end)
 end
 
@@ -402,7 +398,7 @@ function M.pull()
     if buffer.bufnr() and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(buffer.bufnr()) then
       buffer.render(buffer.bufnr())
     end
-    vim.notify(string.format('pending.nvim: Google Tasks pulled — +%d ~%d', created, updated))
+    log.info(string.format('Google Tasks pulled — +%d ~%d', created, updated))
   end)
 end
 
@@ -425,9 +421,9 @@ function M.sync()
     if buffer.bufnr() and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(buffer.bufnr()) then
       buffer.render(buffer.bufnr())
     end
-    vim.notify(
+    log.info(
       string.format(
-        'pending.nvim: Google Tasks synced — push: +%d ~%d -%d, pull: +%d ~%d',
+        'Google Tasks synced — push: +%d ~%d -%d, pull: +%d ~%d',
         pushed_create,
         pushed_update,
         pushed_delete,
diff --git a/lua/pending/sync/oauth.lua b/lua/pending/sync/oauth.lua
index c53e3b1..dc9eb5c 100644
--- a/lua/pending/sync/oauth.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/sync/oauth.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local config = require('pending.config')
+local log = require('pending.log')
 
 local TOKEN_URL = 'https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token'
 local AUTH_URL = 'https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/v2/auth'
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ function OAuthClient:get_access_token()
   if now - obtained > expires - 60 then
     tokens = self:refresh_access_token(creds, tokens)
     if not tokens then
-      vim.notify('pending.nvim: Failed to refresh access token.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+      log.error('Failed to refresh access token.')
       return nil
     end
   end
@@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ function OAuthClient:auth()
     .. '&code_challenge_method=S256'
 
   vim.ui.open(auth_url)
-  vim.notify('pending.nvim: Opening browser for Google authorization...')
+  log.info('Opening browser for Google authorization...')
 
   local server = vim.uv.new_tcp()
   local server_closed = false
@@ -337,7 +338,7 @@ function OAuthClient:auth()
   vim.defer_fn(function()
     if not server_closed then
       close_server()
-      vim.notify('pending.nvim: OAuth callback timed out (120s).', vim.log.levels.WARN)
+      log.warn('OAuth callback timed out (120s).')
     end
   end, 120000)
 end
@@ -373,19 +374,19 @@ function OAuthClient:_exchange_code(creds, code, code_verifier, port)
   }, { text = true })
 
   if result.code ~= 0 then
-    vim.notify('pending.nvim: Token exchange failed.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('Token exchange failed.')
     return
   end
 
   local ok, decoded = pcall(vim.json.decode, result.stdout or '')
   if not ok or not decoded.access_token then
-    vim.notify('pending.nvim: Invalid token response.', vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error('Invalid token response.')
     return
   end
 
   decoded.obtained_at = os.time()
   self:save_tokens(decoded)
-  vim.notify('pending.nvim: ' .. self.name .. ' authorized successfully.')
+  log.info(self.name .. ' authorized successfully.')
 end
 
 ---@param opts { name: string, scope: string, port: integer, config_key: string }
diff --git a/lua/pending/textobj.lua b/lua/pending/textobj.lua
index 62d6db3..887ef8f 100644
--- a/lua/pending/textobj.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/textobj.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 local buffer = require('pending.buffer')
 local config = require('pending.config')
+local log = require('pending.log')
 
 ---@class pending.textobj
 local M = {}
@@ -7,9 +8,7 @@ local M = {}
 ---@param ... any
 ---@return nil
 local function dbg(...)
-  if config.get().debug then
-    vim.notify('[pending.textobj] ' .. string.format(...), vim.log.levels.INFO)
-  end
+  log.debug(string.format(...))
 end
 
 ---@param lnum integer
diff --git a/plugin/pending.lua b/plugin/pending.lua
index 162dfd7..f6ed6bb 100644
--- a/plugin/pending.lua
+++ b/plugin/pending.lua
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ end, {
   nargs = '*',
   complete = function(arg_lead, cmd_line)
     local pending = require('pending')
-    local subcmds = { 'add', 'archive', 'due', 'edit', 'filter', 'init', 'undo' }
+    local subcmds = { 'add', 'archive', 'due', 'edit', 'filter', 'undo' }
     for _, b in ipairs(pending.sync_backends()) do
       table.insert(subcmds, b)
     end
diff --git a/spec/diff_spec.lua b/spec/diff_spec.lua
index c2a0406..01d8aac 100644
--- a/spec/diff_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/diff_spec.lua
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ describe('diff', function()
       assert.are.equal(modified_after_first, task.modified)
     end)
 
-    it('clears due when removed from buffer line', function()
+    it('preserves due when not present in buffer line', function()
       s:add({ description = 'Pay bill', due = '2026-03-15' })
       s:save()
       local lines = {
@@ -209,7 +209,20 @@ describe('diff', function()
       diff.apply(lines, s)
       s:load()
       local task = s:get(1)
-      assert.is_nil(task.due)
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', task.due)
+    end)
+
+    it('updates due when inline token is present', function()
+      s:add({ description = 'Pay bill', due = '2026-03-15' })
+      s:save()
+      local lines = {
+        '# Inbox',
+        '/1/- [ ] Pay bill due:2026-04-01',
+      }
+      diff.apply(lines, s)
+      s:load()
+      local task = s:get(1)
+      assert.are.equal('2026-04-01', task.due)
     end)
 
     it('stores recur field on new tasks from buffer', function()
@@ -237,7 +250,7 @@ describe('diff', function()
       assert.are.equal('weekly', task.recur)
     end)
 
-    it('clears recur when token removed from line', function()
+    it('preserves recur when not present in buffer line', function()
       s:add({ description = 'Task', recur = 'daily' })
       s:save()
       local lines = {
@@ -247,7 +260,7 @@ describe('diff', function()
       diff.apply(lines, s)
       s:load()
       local task = s:get(1)
-      assert.is_nil(task.recur)
+      assert.are.equal('daily', task.recur)
     end)
 
     it('parses rec: with completion mode prefix', function()
diff --git a/spec/parse_spec.lua b/spec/parse_spec.lua
index bc313b0..0e6ac19 100644
--- a/spec/parse_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/parse_spec.lua
@@ -415,4 +415,73 @@ describe('parse', function()
       assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', meta.due)
     end)
   end)
+
+  describe('input_date_formats', function()
+    before_each(function()
+      config.reset()
+    end)
+
+    after_each(function()
+      vim.g.pending = nil
+      config.reset()
+    end)
+
+    it('parses MM/DD/YYYY format', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%m/%d/%Y' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local result = parse.resolve_date('03/15/2026')
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', result)
+    end)
+
+    it('parses DD-Mon-YYYY format', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%d-%b-%Y' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local result = parse.resolve_date('15-Mar-2026')
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', result)
+    end)
+
+    it('parses month name case-insensitively', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%d-%b-%Y' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local result = parse.resolve_date('15-MARCH-2026')
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', result)
+    end)
+
+    it('parses two-digit year', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%m/%d/%y' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local result = parse.resolve_date('03/15/26')
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', result)
+    end)
+
+    it('infers year when format has no year field', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%m/%d' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local result = parse.resolve_date('12/31')
+      assert.is_not_nil(result)
+      assert.truthy(result:match('^%d%d%d%d%-12%-31$'))
+    end)
+
+    it('returns nil for non-matching input', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%m/%d/%Y' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local result = parse.resolve_date('not-a-date')
+      assert.is_nil(result)
+    end)
+
+    it('tries formats in order, returns first match', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%d/%m/%Y', '%m/%d/%Y' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local result = parse.resolve_date('01/03/2026')
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-01', result)
+    end)
+
+    it('works with body() for inline due token', function()
+      vim.g.pending = { input_date_formats = { '%m/%d/%Y' } }
+      config.reset()
+      local desc, meta = parse.body('Pay rent due:03/15/2026')
+      assert.are.equal('Pay rent', desc)
+      assert.are.equal('2026-03-15', meta.due)
+    end)
+  end)
 end)
diff --git a/spec/sync_spec.lua b/spec/sync_spec.lua
index 93d3e2c..20a85c1 100644
--- a/spec/sync_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/sync_spec.lua
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ describe('sync', function()
       end
       pending.command('notreal')
       vim.notify = orig
-      assert.are.equal('Unknown Pending subcommand: notreal', msg)
+      assert.are.equal('[pending.nvim]: Unknown Pending subcommand: notreal', msg)
     end)
 
     it('errors on unknown action for valid backend', function()
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ describe('sync', function()
       end
       pending.command('gcal notreal')
       vim.notify = orig
-      assert.are.equal("gcal backend has no 'notreal' action", msg)
+      assert.are.equal("[pending.nvim]: gcal backend has no 'notreal' action", msg)
     end)
 
     it('lists actions when action is omitted', function()