diff --git a/doc/pending.txt b/doc/pending.txt
index a1f8198..be369b5 100644
--- a/doc/pending.txt
+++ b/doc/pending.txt
@@ -268,30 +268,6 @@ COMMANDS                                                    *pending-commands*
 
     `gcal`    Google Calendar one-way push. See |pending-gcal|.
 
-                                                            *:Pending-filter*
-:Pending filter {predicates}
-    Apply a filter to the task buffer. {predicates} is a space-separated list
-    of one or more predicate tokens. Only tasks matching all predicates (AND
-    semantics) are shown. Hidden tasks are not deleted — they are preserved in
-    the store and reappear when the filter is cleared. >vim
-        :Pending filter cat:Work
-        :Pending filter overdue
-        :Pending filter cat:Work overdue
-        :Pending filter priority
-        :Pending filter clear
-<
-    When a filter is active the buffer's first line shows: >
-        FILTER: cat:Work overdue
-<
-    The user can edit this line inline and `:w` to change the active filter.
-    Deleting the `FILTER:` line entirely and saving clears the filter.
-    `:Pending filter clear` also clears the filter programmatically.
-
-    Tab completion after `:Pending filter ` lists available predicates and
-    category values. Already-used predicates are excluded from completions.
-
-    See |pending-filters| for the full list of supported predicates.
-
                                                                *:Pending-undo*
 :Pending undo
     Undo the last `:w` save, restoring the task store to its previous state.
@@ -445,47 +421,6 @@ Queue view: ~                                             *pending-view-queue*
     text alongside the due date virtual text so tasks remain identifiable
     across categories. The buffer is named `pending://queue`.
 
-==============================================================================
-FILTERS                                                       *pending-filters*
-
-Filters narrow the task buffer to a subset of tasks without deleting any data.
-Hidden tasks are preserved in the store and reappear when the filter is
-cleared. Filter state is session-local — it does not persist across Neovim
-restarts.
-
-Set a filter with |:Pending-filter| or by editing the `FILTER:` line: >vim
-    :Pending filter cat:Work overdue
-<
-
-Multiple predicates are separated by spaces and combined with AND logic — a
-task must match every predicate to be shown.
-
-Available predicates: ~
-
-    `cat:X`       Show only tasks whose category is exactly `X`. Tasks with no
-              category (assigned to `default_category`) are hidden unless
-              `default_category` matches `X`.
-
-    `overdue`     Show only pending tasks with a due date strictly before today.
-
-    `today`       Show only pending tasks with a due date equal to today.
-
-    `priority`    Show only tasks with priority > 0 (the `!` marker).
-
-    `clear`       Special value for |:Pending-filter| — clears the active filter
-              and shows all tasks.
-
-FILTER: line: ~                                          *pending-filter-line*
-
-When a filter is active, the first line of the task buffer is: >
-    FILTER: cat:Work overdue
-<
-
-This line is editable. Write the buffer with `:w` to apply the updated
-predicates. Deleting the `FILTER:` line and saving clears the filter. The
-line is highlighted with |PendingFilter| and does not appear in the stored
-task data.
-
 ==============================================================================
 CONFIGURATION                                                *pending-config*
 
@@ -825,11 +760,6 @@ PendingRecur        Applied to the recurrence indicator virtual text shown
                     alongside due dates for recurring tasks.
                     Default: links to `DiagnosticInfo`.
 
-                                                            *PendingFilter*
-PendingFilter       Applied to the `FILTER:` header line shown at the top of
-                    the buffer when a filter is active.
-                    Default: links to `DiagnosticWarn`.
-
 To override a group in your colorscheme or config: >lua
     vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'PendingDue', { fg = '#aaaaaa', italic = true })
 <
diff --git a/lua/pending/buffer.lua b/lua/pending/buffer.lua
index 0372ef6..a427b68 100644
--- a/lua/pending/buffer.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/buffer.lua
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ local current_view = nil
 local _meta = {}
 ---@type table<integer, table<string, boolean>>
 local _fold_state = {}
----@type string[]
-local _filter_predicates = {}
----@type table<integer, true>
-local _hidden_ids = {}
 
 ---@return pending.LineMeta[]
 function M.meta()
@@ -41,24 +37,6 @@ function M.current_view_name()
   return current_view
 end
 
----@return string[]
-function M.filter_predicates()
-  return _filter_predicates
-end
-
----@return table<integer, true>
-function M.hidden_ids()
-  return _hidden_ids
-end
-
----@param predicates string[]
----@param hidden table<integer, true>
----@return nil
-function M.set_filter(predicates, hidden)
-  _filter_predicates = predicates
-  _hidden_ids = hidden
-end
-
 ---@return nil
 function M.clear_winid()
   task_winid = nil
@@ -146,13 +124,7 @@ local function apply_extmarks(bufnr, line_meta)
   vim.api.nvim_buf_clear_namespace(bufnr, task_ns, 0, -1)
   for i, m in ipairs(line_meta) do
     local row = i - 1
-    if m.type == 'filter' then
-      local line = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, row, row + 1, false)[1] or ''
-      vim.api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(bufnr, task_ns, row, 0, {
-        end_col = #line,
-        hl_group = 'PendingFilter',
-      })
-    elseif m.type == 'task' then
+    if m.type == 'task' then
       local due_hl = m.overdue and 'PendingOverdue' or 'PendingDue'
       local virt_parts = {}
       if m.show_category and m.category then
@@ -198,7 +170,6 @@ local function setup_highlights()
   vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'PendingDone', { link = 'Comment', default = true })
   vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'PendingPriority', { link = 'DiagnosticWarn', default = true })
   vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'PendingRecur', { link = 'DiagnosticInfo', default = true })
-  vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'PendingFilter', { link = 'DiagnosticWarn', default = true })
 end
 
 local function snapshot_folds(bufnr)
@@ -254,13 +225,7 @@ function M.render(bufnr)
   current_view = current_view or config.get().default_view
   local view_label = current_view == 'priority' and 'queue' or current_view
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name(bufnr, 'pending://' .. view_label)
-  local all_tasks = store.active_tasks()
-  local tasks = {}
-  for _, task in ipairs(all_tasks) do
-    if not _hidden_ids[task.id] then
-      table.insert(tasks, task)
-    end
-  end
+  local tasks = store.active_tasks()
 
   local lines, line_meta
   if current_view == 'priority' then
@@ -269,11 +234,6 @@ function M.render(bufnr)
     lines, line_meta = views.category_view(tasks)
   end
 
-  if #_filter_predicates > 0 then
-    table.insert(lines, 1, 'FILTER: ' .. table.concat(_filter_predicates, ' '))
-    table.insert(line_meta, 1, { type = 'filter' })
-  end
-
   _meta = line_meta
 
   snapshot_folds(bufnr)
diff --git a/lua/pending/diff.lua b/lua/pending/diff.lua
index 4fd83c3..daab788 100644
--- a/lua/pending/diff.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/diff.lua
@@ -27,13 +27,8 @@ end
 function M.parse_buffer(lines)
   local result = {}
   local current_category = nil
-  local start = 1
-  if lines[1] and lines[1]:match('^FILTER:') then
-    start = 2
-  end
 
-  for i = start, #lines do
-    local line = lines[i]
+  for i, line in ipairs(lines) do
     local id, body = line:match('^/(%d+)/(- %[.%] .*)$')
     if not id then
       body = line:match('^(- %[.%] .*)$')
@@ -70,9 +65,8 @@ function M.parse_buffer(lines)
 end
 
 ---@param lines string[]
----@param hidden_ids? table<integer, true>
 ---@return nil
-function M.apply(lines, hidden_ids)
+function M.apply(lines)
   local parsed = M.parse_buffer(lines)
   local now = timestamp()
   local data = store.data()
@@ -166,7 +160,7 @@ function M.apply(lines, hidden_ids)
   end
 
   for id, task in pairs(old_by_id) do
-    if not seen_ids[id] and not (hidden_ids and hidden_ids[id]) then
+    if not seen_ids[id] then
       task.status = 'deleted'
       task['end'] = now
       task.modified = now
diff --git a/lua/pending/init.lua b/lua/pending/init.lua
index 7409fb5..cae13a9 100644
--- a/lua/pending/init.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/init.lua
@@ -94,47 +94,6 @@ function M.has_due()
   return c.overdue > 0 or c.today > 0
 end
 
----@param tasks pending.Task[]
----@param predicates string[]
----@return table<integer, true>
-local function compute_hidden_ids(tasks, predicates)
-  if #predicates == 0 then
-    return {}
-  end
-  local hidden = {}
-  for _, task in ipairs(tasks) do
-    local visible = true
-    for _, pred in ipairs(predicates) do
-      local cat_val = pred:match('^cat:(.+)$')
-      if cat_val then
-        if task.category ~= cat_val then
-          visible = false
-          break
-        end
-      elseif pred == 'overdue' then
-        if not (task.status == 'pending' and task.due and parse.is_overdue(task.due)) then
-          visible = false
-          break
-        end
-      elseif pred == 'today' then
-        if not (task.status == 'pending' and task.due and parse.is_today(task.due)) then
-          visible = false
-          break
-        end
-      elseif pred == 'priority' then
-        if not (task.priority and task.priority > 0) then
-          visible = false
-          break
-        end
-      end
-    end
-    if not visible then
-      hidden[task.id] = true
-    end
-  end
-  return hidden
-end
-
 ---@return integer bufnr
 function M.open()
   local bufnr = buffer.open()
@@ -143,30 +102,6 @@ function M.open()
   return bufnr
 end
 
----@param pred_str string
----@return nil
-function M.filter(pred_str)
-  if pred_str == 'clear' or pred_str == '' then
-    buffer.set_filter({}, {})
-    local bufnr = buffer.bufnr()
-    if bufnr then
-      buffer.render(bufnr)
-    end
-    return
-  end
-  local predicates = {}
-  for word in pred_str:gmatch('%S+') do
-    table.insert(predicates, word)
-  end
-  local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-  local hidden = compute_hidden_ids(tasks, predicates)
-  buffer.set_filter(predicates, hidden)
-  local bufnr = buffer.bufnr()
-  if bufnr then
-    buffer.render(bufnr)
-  end
-end
-
 ---@param bufnr integer
 ---@return nil
 function M._setup_autocmds(bufnr)
@@ -311,27 +246,13 @@ end
 ---@return nil
 function M._on_write(bufnr)
   local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false)
-  local predicates = buffer.filter_predicates()
-  if lines[1] and lines[1]:match('^FILTER:') then
-    local pred_str = lines[1]:match('^FILTER:%s*(.*)$') or ''
-    predicates = {}
-    for word in pred_str:gmatch('%S+') do
-      table.insert(predicates, word)
-    end
-    lines = vim.list_slice(lines, 2)
-  elseif #buffer.filter_predicates() > 0 then
-    predicates = {}
-  end
-  local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-  local hidden = compute_hidden_ids(tasks, predicates)
-  buffer.set_filter(predicates, hidden)
   local snapshot = store.snapshot()
   local stack = store.undo_stack()
   table.insert(stack, snapshot)
   if #stack > UNDO_MAX then
     table.remove(stack, 1)
   end
-  diff.apply(lines, hidden)
+  diff.apply(lines)
   M._recompute_counts()
   buffer.render(bufnr)
 end
@@ -797,8 +718,6 @@ function M.command(args)
     M.archive(d)
   elseif cmd == 'due' then
     M.due()
-  elseif cmd == 'filter' then
-    M.filter(rest)
   elseif cmd == 'undo' then
     M.undo_write()
   else
diff --git a/lua/pending/views.lua b/lua/pending/views.lua
index 286db9a..32cc2fb 100644
--- a/lua/pending/views.lua
+++ b/lua/pending/views.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ local config = require('pending.config')
 local parse = require('pending.parse')
 
 ---@class pending.LineMeta
----@field type 'task'|'header'|'blank'|'filter'
+---@field type 'task'|'header'|'blank'
 ---@field id? integer
 ---@field due? string
 ---@field raw_due? string
diff --git a/plugin/pending.lua b/plugin/pending.lua
index be546c5..839b351 100644
--- a/plugin/pending.lua
+++ b/plugin/pending.lua
@@ -164,34 +164,10 @@ end, {
   bar = true,
   nargs = '*',
   complete = function(arg_lead, cmd_line)
-    local subcmds = { 'add', 'archive', 'due', 'edit', 'filter', 'sync', 'undo' }
+    local subcmds = { 'add', 'archive', 'due', 'edit', 'sync', 'undo' }
     if not cmd_line:match('^Pending%s+%S') then
       return filter_candidates(arg_lead, subcmds)
     end
-    if cmd_line:match('^Pending%s+filter') then
-      local after_filter = cmd_line:match('^Pending%s+filter%s+(.*)') or ''
-      local used = {}
-      for word in after_filter:gmatch('%S+') do
-        used[word] = true
-      end
-      local candidates = { 'clear', 'overdue', 'today', 'priority' }
-      local store = require('pending.store')
-      store.load()
-      local seen = {}
-      for _, task in ipairs(store.active_tasks()) do
-        if task.category and not seen[task.category] then
-          seen[task.category] = true
-          table.insert(candidates, 'cat:' .. task.category)
-        end
-      end
-      local filtered = {}
-      for _, c in ipairs(candidates) do
-        if not used[c] and (arg_lead == '' or c:find(arg_lead, 1, true) == 1) then
-          table.insert(filtered, c)
-        end
-      end
-      return filtered
-    end
     if cmd_line:match('^Pending%s+edit') then
       return complete_edit(arg_lead, cmd_line)
     end
diff --git a/spec/filter_spec.lua b/spec/filter_spec.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index 8756c5f..0000000
--- a/spec/filter_spec.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,297 +0,0 @@
-require('spec.helpers')
-
-local config = require('pending.config')
-local diff = require('pending.diff')
-local store = require('pending.store')
-
-describe('filter', function()
-  local tmpdir
-  local pending
-  local buffer
-
-  before_each(function()
-    tmpdir = vim.fn.tempname()
-    vim.fn.mkdir(tmpdir, 'p')
-    vim.g.pending = { data_path = tmpdir .. '/tasks.json' }
-    config.reset()
-    store.unload()
-    package.loaded['pending'] = nil
-    package.loaded['pending.buffer'] = nil
-    pending = require('pending')
-    buffer = require('pending.buffer')
-    buffer.set_filter({}, {})
-  end)
-
-  after_each(function()
-    vim.fn.delete(tmpdir, 'rf')
-    vim.g.pending = nil
-    config.reset()
-    store.unload()
-    package.loaded['pending'] = nil
-    package.loaded['pending.buffer'] = nil
-  end)
-
-  describe('filter predicates', function()
-    it('cat: hides tasks with non-matching category', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Work task', category = 'Work' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Home task', category = 'Home' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('cat:Work')
-      local hidden = buffer.hidden_ids()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local work_task = nil
-      local home_task = nil
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.category == 'Work' then
-          work_task = t
-        end
-        if t.category == 'Home' then
-          home_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      assert.is_not_nil(work_task)
-      assert.is_not_nil(home_task)
-      assert.is_nil(hidden[work_task.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[home_task.id])
-    end)
-
-    it('cat: hides tasks with no category (default category)', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Work task', category = 'Work' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Inbox task' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('cat:Work')
-      local hidden = buffer.hidden_ids()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local inbox_task = nil
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.category ~= 'Work' then
-          inbox_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      assert.is_not_nil(inbox_task)
-      assert.is_true(hidden[inbox_task.id])
-    end)
-
-    it('overdue hides non-overdue tasks', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Old task', due = '2020-01-01' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Future task', due = '2099-01-01' })
-      store.add({ description = 'No due task' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('overdue')
-      local hidden = buffer.hidden_ids()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local overdue_task, future_task, nodue_task
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.due == '2020-01-01' then
-          overdue_task = t
-        end
-        if t.due == '2099-01-01' then
-          future_task = t
-        end
-        if not t.due then
-          nodue_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      assert.is_nil(hidden[overdue_task.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[future_task.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[nodue_task.id])
-    end)
-
-    it('today hides non-today tasks', function()
-      store.load()
-      local today = os.date('%Y-%m-%d') --[[@as string]]
-      store.add({ description = 'Today task', due = today })
-      store.add({ description = 'Old task', due = '2020-01-01' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Future task', due = '2099-01-01' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('today')
-      local hidden = buffer.hidden_ids()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local today_task, old_task, future_task
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.due == today then
-          today_task = t
-        end
-        if t.due == '2020-01-01' then
-          old_task = t
-        end
-        if t.due == '2099-01-01' then
-          future_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      assert.is_nil(hidden[today_task.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[old_task.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[future_task.id])
-    end)
-
-    it('priority hides non-priority tasks', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Important', priority = 1 })
-      store.add({ description = 'Normal' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('priority')
-      local hidden = buffer.hidden_ids()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local important_task, normal_task
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.priority and t.priority > 0 then
-          important_task = t
-        end
-        if not t.priority or t.priority == 0 then
-          normal_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      assert.is_nil(hidden[important_task.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[normal_task.id])
-    end)
-
-    it('multi-predicate AND: cat:Work + overdue', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Work overdue', category = 'Work', due = '2020-01-01' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Work future', category = 'Work', due = '2099-01-01' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Home overdue', category = 'Home', due = '2020-01-01' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('cat:Work overdue')
-      local hidden = buffer.hidden_ids()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local work_overdue, work_future, home_overdue
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.description == 'Work overdue' then
-          work_overdue = t
-        end
-        if t.description == 'Work future' then
-          work_future = t
-        end
-        if t.description == 'Home overdue' then
-          home_overdue = t
-        end
-      end
-      assert.is_nil(hidden[work_overdue.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[work_future.id])
-      assert.is_true(hidden[home_overdue.id])
-    end)
-
-    it('filter clear removes all predicates and hidden ids', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Work task', category = 'Work' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Home task', category = 'Home' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('cat:Work')
-      assert.are.equal(1, #buffer.filter_predicates())
-      pending.filter('clear')
-      assert.are.equal(0, #buffer.filter_predicates())
-      assert.are.same({}, buffer.hidden_ids())
-    end)
-
-    it('filter empty string clears filter', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Work task', category = 'Work' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('cat:Work')
-      assert.are.equal(1, #buffer.filter_predicates())
-      pending.filter('')
-      assert.are.equal(0, #buffer.filter_predicates())
-    end)
-
-    it('filter predicates persist across set_filter calls', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Work task', category = 'Work' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Home task', category = 'Home' })
-      store.save()
-      pending.filter('cat:Work')
-      local preds = buffer.filter_predicates()
-      assert.are.equal(1, #preds)
-      assert.are.equal('cat:Work', preds[1])
-      local hidden = buffer.hidden_ids()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local home_task
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.category == 'Home' then
-          home_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      assert.is_true(hidden[home_task.id])
-    end)
-  end)
-
-  describe('diff.apply with hidden_ids', function()
-    it('does not mark hidden tasks as deleted', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Visible task' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Hidden task' })
-      store.save()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local hidden_task
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.description == 'Hidden task' then
-          hidden_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      local hidden_ids = { [hidden_task.id] = true }
-      local lines = {
-        '/1/- [ ] Visible task',
-      }
-      diff.apply(lines, hidden_ids)
-      store.unload()
-      store.load()
-      local hidden = store.get(hidden_task.id)
-      assert.are.equal('pending', hidden.status)
-    end)
-
-    it('marks tasks deleted when not hidden and not in buffer', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'Keep task' })
-      store.add({ description = 'Delete task' })
-      store.save()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local keep_task, delete_task
-      for _, t in ipairs(tasks) do
-        if t.description == 'Keep task' then
-          keep_task = t
-        end
-        if t.description == 'Delete task' then
-          delete_task = t
-        end
-      end
-      local lines = {
-        '/' .. keep_task.id .. '/- [ ] Keep task',
-      }
-      diff.apply(lines, {})
-      store.unload()
-      store.load()
-      local deleted = store.get(delete_task.id)
-      assert.are.equal('deleted', deleted.status)
-    end)
-
-    it('strips FILTER: line before parsing', function()
-      store.load()
-      store.add({ description = 'My task' })
-      store.save()
-      local tasks = store.active_tasks()
-      local task = tasks[1]
-      local lines = {
-        'FILTER: cat:Work',
-        '/' .. task.id .. '/- [ ] My task',
-      }
-      diff.apply(lines, {})
-      store.unload()
-      store.load()
-      local t = store.get(task.id)
-      assert.are.equal('pending', t.status)
-    end)
-
-    it('parse_buffer skips FILTER: header line', function()
-      local lines = {
-        'FILTER: overdue',
-        '/1/- [ ] A task',
-      }
-      local result = diff.parse_buffer(lines)
-      assert.are.equal(1, #result)
-      assert.are.equal('task', result[1].type)
-      assert.are.equal('A task', result[1].description)
-    end)
-  end)
-end)