diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Query.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Query.hs
index fe184d2b5..8f3ebd75f 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Query.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Query.hs
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ module Hledger.Query (
 where
 
 import Control.Applicative ((<|>), many, optional)
+import Data.Default (Default(..))
 import Data.Either (partitionEithers)
 import Data.List (partition)
 import Data.Maybe (fromMaybe, isJust, mapMaybe)
@@ -105,6 +106,8 @@ data Query = Any              -- ^ always match
                                         -- matching the regexp if provided, exists
     deriving (Eq,Show)
 
+instance Default Query where def = Any
+
 -- | Construct a payee tag
 payeeTag :: Maybe String -> Either RegexError Query
 payeeTag = fmap (Tag (toRegexCI' "payee")) . maybe (pure Nothing) (fmap Just . toRegexCI)
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports.hs
index 434da6fda..eccf0a81b 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports.hs
@@ -41,5 +41,4 @@ tests_Reports = tests "Reports" [
   ,tests_EntriesReport
   ,tests_MultiBalanceReport
   ,tests_PostingsReport
-  ,tests_ReportOptions
   ]
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs
index af56c5824..7205aa0bd 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BalanceReport.hs
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@ flatShowsExclusiveBalance    = True
 -- their balances (change of balance) during the specified period.
 -- If the normalbalance_ option is set, it adjusts the sorting and sign of
 -- amounts (see ReportOpts and CompoundBalanceCommand).
-balanceReport :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> BalanceReport
-balanceReport ropts q j = (rows, total)
+balanceReport :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> BalanceReport
+balanceReport ropts j = (rows, total)
   where
-    report = multiBalanceReportWith ropts q j (journalPriceOracle (infer_value_ ropts) j)
+    report = multiBalanceReportWith ropts j (journalPriceOracle (infer_value_ ropts) j)
     rows = [( prrFullName row
             , prrDisplayName row
             , prrDepth row - 1  -- BalanceReport uses 0-based account depths
@@ -102,8 +102,9 @@ tests_BalanceReport = tests "BalanceReport" [
 
   let
     (opts,journal) `gives` r = do
-      let (eitems, etotal) = r
-          (aitems, atotal) = balanceReport opts (queryFromOpts nulldate opts) journal
+      let opts' = opts{query_=And [queryFromFlags opts, query_ opts]}
+          (eitems, etotal) = r
+          (aitems, atotal) = balanceReport opts' journal
           showw (acct,acct',indent,amt) = (acct, acct', indent, showMixedAmountDebug amt)
       (map showw aitems) @?= (map showw eitems)
       (showMixedAmountDebug atotal) @?= (showMixedAmountDebug etotal)
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ tests_BalanceReport = tests "BalanceReport" [
        Mixed [usd 0])
 
     ,test "with depth:N" $
-     (defreportopts{query_="depth:1"}, samplejournal) `gives`
+     (defreportopts{query_=Depth 1}, samplejournal) `gives`
       ([
        ("expenses",    "expenses",    0, mamountp'  "$2.00")
        ,("income",      "income",      0, mamountp' "$-2.00")
@@ -160,11 +161,11 @@ tests_BalanceReport = tests "BalanceReport" [
        Mixed [usd 0])
 
     ,test "with date:" $
-     (defreportopts{query_="date:'in 2009'"}, samplejournal2) `gives`
+     (defreportopts{query_=Date $ DateSpan (Just $ fromGregorian 2009 01 01) (Just $ fromGregorian 2010 01 01)}, samplejournal2) `gives`
       ([], 0)
 
     ,test "with date2:" $
-     (defreportopts{query_="date2:'in 2009'"}, samplejournal2) `gives`
+     (defreportopts{query_=Date2 $ DateSpan (Just $ fromGregorian 2009 01 01) (Just $ fromGregorian 2010 01 01)}, samplejournal2) `gives`
       ([
         ("assets:bank:checking","assets:bank:checking",0,mamountp' "$1.00")
        ,("income:salary","income:salary",0,mamountp' "$-1.00")
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ tests_BalanceReport = tests "BalanceReport" [
        Mixed [usd 0])
 
     ,test "with desc:" $
-     (defreportopts{query_="desc:income"}, samplejournal) `gives`
+     (defreportopts{query_=Desc $ toRegexCI' "income"}, samplejournal) `gives`
       ([
         ("assets:bank:checking","assets:bank:checking",0,mamountp' "$1.00")
        ,("income:salary","income:salary",0, mamountp' "$-1.00")
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ tests_BalanceReport = tests "BalanceReport" [
        Mixed [usd 0])
 
     ,test "with not:desc:" $
-     (defreportopts{query_="not:desc:income"}, samplejournal) `gives`
+     (defreportopts{query_=Not . Desc $ toRegexCI' "income"}, samplejournal) `gives`
       ([
         ("assets:bank:saving","assets:bank:saving",0, mamountp' "$1.00")
        ,("assets:cash","assets:cash",0, mamountp' "$-2.00")
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
index 7f3669ffd..c7d269739 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ import Data.Maybe
 #if !(MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0))
 import Data.Monoid ((<>))
 #endif
-import Data.Time.Calendar
 import Safe
 --import Data.List
 --import Data.Maybe
@@ -66,8 +65,8 @@ type BudgetReport    = PeriodicReport    DisplayName BudgetCell
 -- actual balance changes from the regular transactions,
 -- and compare these to get a 'BudgetReport'.
 -- Unbudgeted accounts may be hidden or renamed (see budgetRollup).
-budgetReport :: ReportOpts -> Bool -> DateSpan -> Day -> Journal -> BudgetReport
-budgetReport ropts' assrt reportspan d j = dbg1 "sortedbudgetreport" budgetreport
+budgetReport :: ReportOpts -> Bool -> DateSpan -> Journal -> BudgetReport
+budgetReport ropts' assrt reportspan j = dbg1 "sortedbudgetreport" budgetreport
   where
     -- Budget report demands ALTree mode to ensure subaccounts and subaccount budgets are properly handled
     -- and that reports with and without --empty make sense when compared side by side
@@ -84,9 +83,9 @@ budgetReport ropts' assrt reportspan d j = dbg1 "sortedbudgetreport" budgetrepor
     actualj = dbg1With (("actualj"++).show.jtxns)  $ budgetRollUp budgetedaccts showunbudgeted j
     budgetj = dbg1With (("budgetj"++).show.jtxns)  $ budgetJournal assrt ropts reportspan j
     actualreport@(PeriodicReport actualspans _ _) =
-        dbg1 "actualreport" $ multiBalanceReport d ropts{empty_=True} actualj
+        dbg1 "actualreport" $ multiBalanceReport ropts{empty_=True} actualj
     budgetgoalreport@(PeriodicReport _ budgetgoalitems budgetgoaltotals) =
-        dbg1 "budgetgoalreport" $ multiBalanceReport d ropts{empty_=True} budgetj
+        dbg1 "budgetgoalreport" $ multiBalanceReport ropts{empty_=True} budgetj
     budgetgoalreport'
       -- If no interval is specified:
       -- budgetgoalreport's span might be shorter actualreport's due to periodic txns;
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/EntriesReport.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/EntriesReport.hs
index 25d86c11b..b4a15f3b8 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/EntriesReport.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/EntriesReport.hs
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ type EntriesReport = [EntriesReportItem]
 type EntriesReportItem = Transaction
 
 -- | Select transactions for an entries report.
-entriesReport :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> EntriesReport
-entriesReport ropts@ReportOpts{..} q j@Journal{..} =
-  sortBy (comparing getdate) $ filter (q `matchesTransaction`) $ map tvalue jtxns
+entriesReport :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> EntriesReport
+entriesReport ropts@ReportOpts{..} j@Journal{..} =
+  sortBy (comparing getdate) $ filter (query_ `matchesTransaction`) $ map tvalue jtxns
   where
     getdate = transactionDateFn ropts
     -- We may be converting posting amounts to value, per hledger_options.m4.md "Effect of --value on reports".
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ entriesReport ropts@ReportOpts{..} q j@Journal{..} =
 
 tests_EntriesReport = tests "EntriesReport" [
   tests "entriesReport" [
-     test "not acct" $ (length $ entriesReport defreportopts (Not . Acct $ toRegex' "bank") samplejournal) @?= 1
-    ,test "date" $ (length $ entriesReport defreportopts (Date $ DateSpan (Just $ fromGregorian 2008 06 01) (Just $ fromGregorian 2008 07 01)) samplejournal) @?= 3
+     test "not acct" $ (length $ entriesReport defreportopts{query_=Not . Acct $ toRegex' "bank"} samplejournal) @?= 1
+    ,test "date" $ (length $ entriesReport defreportopts{query_=Date $ DateSpan (Just $ fromGregorian 2008 06 01) (Just $ fromGregorian 2008 07 01)} samplejournal) @?= 3
   ]
  ]
 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReport.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReport.hs
index dc3e0b254..709e61a8b 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReport.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/MultiBalanceReport.hs
@@ -91,64 +91,57 @@ type ClippedAccountName = AccountName
 -- CompoundBalanceCommand). hledger's most powerful and useful report, used
 -- by the balance command (in multiperiod mode) and (via compoundBalanceReport)
 -- by the bs/cf/is commands.
-multiBalanceReport :: Day -> ReportOpts -> Journal -> MultiBalanceReport
-multiBalanceReport today ropts j =
-    multiBalanceReportWith ropts q j (journalPriceOracle infer j)
-  where
-    q = queryFromOpts today ropts
-    infer = infer_value_ ropts
+multiBalanceReport :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> MultiBalanceReport
+multiBalanceReport ropts j = multiBalanceReportWith ropts j (journalPriceOracle infer j)
+  where infer = infer_value_ ropts
 
--- | A helper for multiBalanceReport. This one takes an explicit Query
--- instead of deriving one from ReportOpts, and an extra argument, a
--- PriceOracle to be used for looking up market prices. Commands which
+-- | A helper for multiBalanceReport. This one takes an extra argument,
+-- a PriceOracle to be used for looking up market prices. Commands which
 -- run multiple reports (bs etc.) can generate the price oracle just
 -- once for efficiency, passing it to each report by calling this
 -- function directly.
-multiBalanceReportWith :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> PriceOracle -> MultiBalanceReport
-multiBalanceReportWith ropts q j priceoracle = report
+multiBalanceReportWith :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> PriceOracle -> MultiBalanceReport
+multiBalanceReportWith ropts' j priceoracle = report
   where
     -- Queries, report/column dates.
-    reportspan = dbg "reportspan" $ calculateReportSpan ropts q j
-    reportq    = dbg "reportq"    $ makeReportQuery ropts reportspan q
+    reportspan = dbg "reportspan" $ calculateReportSpan ropts' j
+    ropts      = dbg "reportopts" $ makeReportQuery ropts' reportspan
 
     -- Group postings into their columns.
-    colps    = dbg'' "colps"  $ getPostingsByColumn ropts reportq j reportspan
+    colps    = dbg'' "colps"  $ getPostingsByColumn ropts j reportspan
     colspans = dbg "colspans" $ M.keys colps
 
     -- The matched accounts with a starting balance. All of these should appear
     -- in the report, even if they have no postings during the report period.
-    startbals = dbg' "startbals" $ startingBalances ropts reportq j reportspan
+    startbals = dbg' "startbals" $ startingBalances ropts j reportspan
 
     -- Generate and postprocess the report, negating balances and taking percentages if needed
     report = dbg' "report" $
-      generateMultiBalanceReport ropts reportq j priceoracle colspans colps startbals
+      generateMultiBalanceReport ropts j priceoracle colspans colps startbals
 
 -- | Generate a compound balance report from a list of CBCSubreportSpec. This
 -- shares postings between the subreports.
-compoundBalanceReport :: Day -> ReportOpts -> Journal -> [CBCSubreportSpec]
+compoundBalanceReport :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> [CBCSubreportSpec]
                       -> CompoundBalanceReport
-compoundBalanceReport today ropts j =
-    compoundBalanceReportWith ropts q j (journalPriceOracle infer j)
-  where
-    q = queryFromOpts today ropts
-    infer = infer_value_ ropts
+compoundBalanceReport ropts j = compoundBalanceReportWith ropts j (journalPriceOracle infer j)
+  where infer = infer_value_ ropts
 
 -- | A helper for compoundBalanceReport, similar to multiBalanceReportWith.
-compoundBalanceReportWith :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> PriceOracle
+compoundBalanceReportWith :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> PriceOracle
                           -> [CBCSubreportSpec] -> CompoundBalanceReport
-compoundBalanceReportWith ropts q j priceoracle subreportspecs = cbr
+compoundBalanceReportWith ropts' j priceoracle subreportspecs = cbr
   where
     -- Queries, report/column dates.
-    reportspan = dbg "reportspan" $ calculateReportSpan ropts q j
-    reportq    = dbg "reportq"    $ makeReportQuery ropts reportspan q
+    reportspan = dbg "reportspan" $ calculateReportSpan ropts' j
+    ropts      = dbg "reportopts" $ makeReportQuery ropts' reportspan
 
     -- Group postings into their columns.
-    colps    = dbg'' "colps"  $ getPostingsByColumn ropts{empty_=True} reportq j reportspan
+    colps    = dbg'' "colps"  $ getPostingsByColumn ropts{empty_=True} j reportspan
     colspans = dbg "colspans" $ M.keys colps
 
     -- The matched accounts with a starting balance. All of these should appear
     -- in the report, even if they have no postings during the report period.
-    startbals = dbg' "startbals" $ startingBalances ropts reportq j reportspan
+    startbals = dbg' "startbals" $ startingBalances ropts j reportspan
 
     subreports = map generateSubreport subreportspecs
       where
@@ -156,7 +149,7 @@ compoundBalanceReportWith ropts q j priceoracle subreportspecs = cbr
             ( cbcsubreporttitle
             -- Postprocess the report, negating balances and taking percentages if needed
             , prNormaliseSign cbcsubreportnormalsign $
-                generateMultiBalanceReport ropts' reportq j priceoracle colspans colps' startbals'
+                generateMultiBalanceReport ropts' j priceoracle colspans colps' startbals'
             , cbcsubreportincreasestotal
             )
           where
@@ -186,21 +179,19 @@ compoundBalanceReportWith ropts q j priceoracle subreportspecs = cbr
 -- TODO: Do we want to check whether to bother calculating these? isHistorical
 -- and startDate is not nothing, otherwise mempty? This currently gives a
 -- failure with some totals which are supposed to be 0 being blank.
-startingBalances :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> DateSpan -> HashMap AccountName Account
-startingBalances ropts q j reportspan = acctchanges
+startingBalances :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> DateSpan -> HashMap AccountName Account
+startingBalances ropts j reportspan =
+    acctChangesFromPostings ropts' . map fst $ getPostings ropts' j
   where
-    acctchanges = acctChangesFromPostings ropts' startbalq . map fst $
-        getPostings ropts' startbalq j
+    ropts' = case accountlistmode_ ropts of
+        ALTree -> ropts{query_=startbalq, period_=precedingperiod, no_elide_=True}
+        ALFlat -> ropts{query_=startbalq, period_=precedingperiod}
 
     -- q projected back before the report start date.
     -- When there's no report start date, in case there are future txns (the hledger-ui case above),
     -- we use emptydatespan to make sure they aren't counted as starting balance.
     startbalq = dbg'' "startbalq" $ And [datelessq, precedingspanq]
-    datelessq = dbg "datelessq" $ filterQuery (not . queryIsDateOrDate2) q
-
-    ropts' = case accountlistmode_ ropts of
-        ALTree -> ropts{no_elide_=True, period_=precedingperiod}
-        ALFlat -> ropts{period_=precedingperiod}
+    datelessq = dbg "datelessq" . filterQuery (not . queryIsDateOrDate2) $ query_ ropts
 
     precedingperiod = dateSpanAsPeriod . spanIntersect precedingspan .
                          periodAsDateSpan $ period_ ropts
@@ -210,11 +201,11 @@ startingBalances ropts q j reportspan = acctchanges
         a -> a
 
 -- | Calculate the span of the report to be generated.
-calculateReportSpan :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> DateSpan
-calculateReportSpan ropts q j = reportspan
+calculateReportSpan :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> DateSpan
+calculateReportSpan ropts j = reportspan
   where
     -- The date span specified by -b/-e/-p options and query args if any.
-    requestedspan  = dbg "requestedspan" $ queryDateSpan (date2_ ropts) q
+    requestedspan  = dbg "requestedspan" $ queryDateSpan (date2_ ropts) $ query_ ropts
     -- If the requested span is open-ended, close it using the journal's end dates.
     -- This can still be the null (open) span if the journal is empty.
     requestedspan' = dbg "requestedspan'" $
@@ -233,21 +224,22 @@ calculateReportSpan ropts q j = reportspan
 -- The user's query expanded to the report span
 -- if there is one (otherwise any date queries are left as-is, which
 -- handles the hledger-ui+future txns case above).
-makeReportQuery :: ReportOpts -> DateSpan -> Query -> Query
-makeReportQuery ropts reportspan q
-    | reportspan == nulldatespan = q
-    | otherwise = And [dateless q, reportspandatesq]
+makeReportQuery :: ReportOpts -> DateSpan -> ReportOpts
+makeReportQuery ropts reportspan
+    | reportspan == nulldatespan = ropts
+    | otherwise = ropts{query_=query}
   where
+    query            = simplifyQuery $ And [dateless $ query_ ropts, reportspandatesq]
     reportspandatesq = dbg "reportspandatesq" $ dateqcons reportspan
-    dateless   = dbg "dateless" . filterQuery (not . queryIsDateOrDate2)
-    dateqcons  = if date2_ ropts then Date2 else Date
+    dateless         = dbg "dateless" . filterQuery (not . queryIsDateOrDate2)
+    dateqcons        = if date2_ ropts then Date2 else Date
 
 -- | Group postings, grouped by their column
-getPostingsByColumn :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> DateSpan -> Map DateSpan [Posting]
-getPostingsByColumn ropts q j reportspan = columns
+getPostingsByColumn :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> DateSpan -> Map DateSpan [Posting]
+getPostingsByColumn ropts j reportspan = columns
   where
     -- Postings matching the query within the report period.
-    ps :: [(Posting, Day)] = dbg'' "ps" $ getPostings ropts q j
+    ps :: [(Posting, Day)] = dbg'' "ps" $ getPostings ropts j
     days = map snd ps
 
     -- The date spans to be included as report columns.
@@ -259,13 +251,14 @@ getPostingsByColumn ropts q j reportspan = columns
     columns = foldr addPosting emptyMap ps
 
 -- | Gather postings matching the query within the report period.
-getPostings :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> [(Posting, Day)]
-getPostings ropts q =
+getPostings :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> [(Posting, Day)]
+getPostings ropts =
     map (\p -> (p, date p)) .
     journalPostings .
     filterJournalAmounts symq .    -- remove amount parts excluded by cur:
     filterJournalPostings reportq  -- remove postings not matched by (adjusted) query
   where
+    q = query_ ropts
     symq = dbg "symq" . filterQuery queryIsSym $ dbg "requested q" q
     -- The user's query with no depth limit, and expanded to the report span
     -- if there is one (otherwise any date queries are left as-is, which
@@ -290,18 +283,17 @@ calculateColSpans ropts reportspan days =
 
 -- | Gather the account balance changes into a regular matrix
 -- including the accounts from all columns.
-calculateAccountChanges :: ReportOpts -> Query -> [DateSpan]
-                        -> Map DateSpan [Posting]
+calculateAccountChanges :: ReportOpts -> [DateSpan] -> Map DateSpan [Posting]
                         -> HashMap ClippedAccountName (Map DateSpan Account)
-calculateAccountChanges ropts q colspans colps
-    | queryDepth q == Just 0 = acctchanges <> elided
-    | otherwise              = acctchanges
+calculateAccountChanges ropts colspans colps
+    | queryDepth (query_ ropts) == Just 0 = acctchanges <> elided
+    | otherwise = acctchanges
   where
     -- Transpose to get each account's balance changes across all columns.
     acctchanges = transposeMap colacctchanges
 
     colacctchanges :: Map DateSpan (HashMap ClippedAccountName Account) =
-      dbg'' "colacctchanges" $ fmap (acctChangesFromPostings ropts q) colps
+      dbg'' "colacctchanges" $ fmap (acctChangesFromPostings ropts) colps
 
     elided = HM.singleton "..." $ M.fromList [(span, nullacct) | span <- colspans]
 
@@ -309,15 +301,15 @@ calculateAccountChanges ropts q colspans colps
 -- the accounts that have postings and calculate the change amount for
 -- each. Accounts and amounts will be depth-clipped appropriately if
 -- a depth limit is in effect.
-acctChangesFromPostings :: ReportOpts -> Query -> [Posting] -> HashMap ClippedAccountName Account
-acctChangesFromPostings ropts q ps = HM.fromList [(aname a, a) | a <- as]
+acctChangesFromPostings :: ReportOpts -> [Posting] -> HashMap ClippedAccountName Account
+acctChangesFromPostings ropts ps = HM.fromList [(aname a, a) | a <- as]
   where
     as = filterAccounts . drop 1 $ accountsFromPostings ps
     filterAccounts = case accountlistmode_ ropts of
         ALTree -> filter ((depthq `matchesAccount`) . aname)      -- exclude deeper balances
         ALFlat -> clipAccountsAndAggregate (queryDepth depthq) .  -- aggregate deeper balances at the depth limit.
                       filter ((0<) . anumpostings)
-    depthq = dbg "depthq" $ filterQuery queryIsDepth q
+    depthq = dbg "depthq" . filterQuery queryIsDepth $ query_ ropts
 
 -- | Accumulate and value amounts, as specified by the report options.
 --
@@ -370,21 +362,19 @@ accumValueAmounts ropts j priceoracle colspans startbals acctchanges =  -- PARTI
 -- | Lay out a set of postings grouped by date span into a regular matrix with rows
 -- given by AccountName and columns by DateSpan, then generate a MultiBalanceReport
 -- from the columns.
-generateMultiBalanceReport :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> PriceOracle
-                           -> [DateSpan]
-                           -> Map DateSpan [Posting]
-                           -> HashMap AccountName Account
+generateMultiBalanceReport :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> PriceOracle -> [DateSpan]
+                           -> Map DateSpan [Posting] -> HashMap AccountName Account
                            -> MultiBalanceReport
-generateMultiBalanceReport ropts q j priceoracle colspans colps startbals = report
+generateMultiBalanceReport ropts j priceoracle colspans colps startbals = report
   where
     -- Each account's balance changes across all columns.
-    acctchanges = dbg'' "acctchanges" $ calculateAccountChanges ropts q colspans colps
+    acctchanges = dbg'' "acctchanges" $ calculateAccountChanges ropts colspans colps
 
     -- Process changes into normal, cumulative, or historical amounts, plus value them
     accumvalued = accumValueAmounts ropts j priceoracle colspans startbals acctchanges
 
     -- All account names that will be displayed, possibly depth-clipped.
-    displaynames = dbg'' "displaynames" $ displayedAccounts ropts q accumvalued
+    displaynames = dbg'' "displaynames" $ displayedAccounts ropts accumvalued
 
     -- All the rows of the report.
     rows = dbg'' "rows" $ buildReportRows ropts displaynames accumvalued
@@ -423,10 +413,9 @@ buildReportRows ropts displaynames = toList . HM.mapMaybeWithKey mkRow
 
 -- | Calculate accounts which are to be displayed in the report, as well as
 -- their name and depth
-displayedAccounts :: ReportOpts -> Query
-                  -> HashMap AccountName (Map DateSpan Account)
+displayedAccounts :: ReportOpts -> HashMap AccountName (Map DateSpan Account)
                   -> HashMap AccountName DisplayName
-displayedAccounts ropts q valuedaccts
+displayedAccounts ropts valuedaccts
     | depth == 0 = HM.singleton "..." $ DisplayName "..." "..." 1
     | otherwise  = HM.mapWithKey (\a _ -> displayedName a) displayedAccts
   where
@@ -467,7 +456,7 @@ displayedAccounts ropts q valuedaccts
         minSubs = if no_elide_ ropts then 1 else 2
 
     isZeroRow balance = all (mixedAmountLooksZero . balance)
-    depth = fromMaybe maxBound $ queryDepth q
+    depth = fromMaybe maxBound . queryDepth $ query_ ropts
     numSubs = subaccountTallies . HM.keys $ HM.filterWithKey isInteresting valuedaccts
 
 -- | Sort the rows by amount or by account declaration order.
@@ -612,8 +601,9 @@ tests_MultiBalanceReport = tests "MultiBalanceReport" [
   let
     amt0 = Amount {acommodity="$", aquantity=0, aprice=Nothing, astyle=AmountStyle {ascommodityside = L, ascommodityspaced = False, asprecision = Precision 2, asdecimalpoint = Just '.', asdigitgroups = Nothing}, aismultiplier=False}
     (opts,journal) `gives` r = do
-      let (eitems, etotal) = r
-          (PeriodicReport _ aitems atotal) = multiBalanceReport nulldate opts journal
+      let opts' = opts{query_=And [queryFromFlags opts, query_ opts]}
+          (eitems, etotal) = r
+          (PeriodicReport _ aitems atotal) = multiBalanceReport opts' journal
           showw (PeriodicReportRow a lAmt amt amt')
               = (displayFull a, displayName a, displayDepth a, map showMixedAmountDebug lAmt, showMixedAmountDebug amt, showMixedAmountDebug amt')
       (map showw aitems) @?= (map showw eitems)
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs
index b70c6eb4f..49bf7c7de 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs
@@ -65,20 +65,20 @@ type SummaryPosting = (Posting, Day)
 
 -- | Select postings from the journal and add running balance and other
 -- information to make a postings report. Used by eg hledger's register command.
-postingsReport :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> PostingsReport
-postingsReport ropts@ReportOpts{..} q j =
+postingsReport :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> PostingsReport
+postingsReport ropts@ReportOpts{..} j =
   (totallabel, items)
     where
-      reportspan  = adjustReportDates ropts q j
+      reportspan  = adjustReportDates ropts j
       whichdate   = whichDateFromOpts ropts
-      mdepth      = queryDepth q
+      mdepth      = queryDepth query_
       styles      = journalCommodityStyles j
       priceoracle = journalPriceOracle infer_value_ j
       multiperiod = interval_ /= NoInterval
       today       = fromMaybe (error' "postingsReport: could not pick a valuation date, ReportOpts today_ is unset") today_  -- PARTIAL:
 
       -- postings to be included in the report, and similarly-matched postings before the report start date
-      (precedingps, reportps) = matchedPostingsBeforeAndDuring ropts q j reportspan
+      (precedingps, reportps) = matchedPostingsBeforeAndDuring ropts j reportspan
 
       -- Postings, or summary postings with their subperiod's end date, to be displayed.
       displayps :: [(Posting, Maybe Day)]
@@ -140,11 +140,11 @@ totallabel = "Total"
 -- 1. If the start date is unspecified, use the earliest date in the journal (if any)
 -- 2. If the end date is unspecified, use the latest date in the journal (if any)
 -- 3. If a report interval is specified, enlarge the dates to enclose whole intervals
-adjustReportDates :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> DateSpan
-adjustReportDates opts q j = reportspan
+adjustReportDates :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> DateSpan
+adjustReportDates opts j = reportspan
   where
     -- see also multiBalanceReport
-    requestedspan       = dbg3 "requestedspan"       $ queryDateSpan' q                                       -- span specified by -b/-e/-p options and query args
+    requestedspan       = dbg3 "requestedspan"       $ queryDateSpan' $ query_ opts                           -- span specified by -b/-e/-p options and query args
     journalspan         = dbg3 "journalspan"         $ dates `spanUnion` date2s                               -- earliest and latest dates (or date2s) in the journal
       where
         dates  = journalDateSpan False j
@@ -159,10 +159,11 @@ adjustReportDates opts q j = reportspan
 -- and also any similarly-matched postings before that date span.
 -- Date restrictions and depth restrictions in the query are ignored.
 -- A helper for the postings report.
-matchedPostingsBeforeAndDuring :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> DateSpan -> ([Posting],[Posting])
-matchedPostingsBeforeAndDuring opts q j (DateSpan mstart mend) =
+matchedPostingsBeforeAndDuring :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> DateSpan -> ([Posting],[Posting])
+matchedPostingsBeforeAndDuring opts j (DateSpan mstart mend) =
   dbg5 "beforeps, duringps" $ span (beforestartq `matchesPosting`) beforeandduringps
   where
+    q = query_ opts
     beforestartq = dbg3 "beforestartq" $ dateqtype $ DateSpan Nothing mstart
     beforeandduringps =
       dbg5 "ps5" $ sortOn sortdate $                                           -- sort postings by date or date2
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ matchedPostingsBeforeAndDuring opts q j (DateSpan mstart mend) =
             dateless   = filterQuery (not . queryIsDateOrDate2)
             beforeendq = dateqtype $ DateSpan Nothing mend
         sortdate = if date2_ opts then postingDate2 else postingDate
-        symq = dbg4 "symq" $ filterQuery queryIsSym q
+        symq = dbg4 "symq" . filterQuery queryIsSym $ query_ opts
     dateqtype
       | queryIsDate2 dateq || (queryIsDate dateq && date2_ opts) = Date2
       | otherwise = Date
@@ -270,7 +271,7 @@ negatePostingAmount p = p { pamount = negate $ pamount p }
 tests_PostingsReport = tests "PostingsReport" [
 
    test "postingsReport" $ do
-    let (query, journal) `gives` n = (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts query journal) @?= n
+    let (query, journal) `gives` n = (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts{query_=query} journal) @?= n
     -- with the query specified explicitly
     (Any, nulljournal) `gives` 0
     (Any, samplejournal) `gives` 13
@@ -279,10 +280,10 @@ tests_PostingsReport = tests "PostingsReport" [
     (And [Depth 1, StatusQ Cleared, Acct (toRegex' "expenses")], samplejournal) `gives` 2
     (And [And [Depth 1, StatusQ Cleared], Acct (toRegex' "expenses")], samplejournal) `gives` 2
     -- with query and/or command-line options
-    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts Any samplejournal) @?= 13
-    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts{interval_=Months 1} Any samplejournal) @?= 11
-    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts{interval_=Months 1, empty_=True} Any samplejournal) @?= 20
-    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts (Acct (toRegex' "assets:bank:checking")) samplejournal) @?= 5
+    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts samplejournal) @?= 13
+    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts{interval_=Months 1} samplejournal) @?= 11
+    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts{interval_=Months 1, empty_=True} samplejournal) @?= 20
+    (length $ snd $ postingsReport defreportopts{query_=Acct $ toRegex' "assets:bank:checking"} samplejournal) @?= 5
 
      -- (defreportopts, And [Acct "a a", Acct "'b"], samplejournal2) `gives` 0
      -- [(Just (fromGregorian 2008 01 01,"income"),assets:bank:checking             $1,$1)
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
index 7428aadf4..c0df63c00 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@ module Hledger.Reports.ReportOptions (
   journalSelectingAmountFromOpts,
   intervalFromRawOpts,
   forecastPeriodFromRawOpts,
-  queryFromOpts,
-  queryFromOptsOnly,
-  queryOptsFromOpts,
+  queryFromFlags,
   transactionDateFn,
   postingDateFn,
   reportSpan,
@@ -40,8 +38,6 @@ module Hledger.Reports.ReportOptions (
   reportPeriodOrJournalLastDay,
   valuationTypeIsCost,
   valuationTypeIsDefaultValue,
-
-  tests_ReportOptions
 )
 where
 
@@ -49,7 +45,7 @@ import Control.Applicative ((<|>))
 import Data.List.Extra (nubSort)
 import Data.Maybe (fromMaybe, isJust)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
-import Data.Time.Calendar (Day, addDays, fromGregorian)
+import Data.Time.Calendar (Day, addDays)
 import Data.Default (Default(..))
 import Safe (lastDef, lastMay)
 
@@ -99,8 +95,8 @@ data ReportOpts = ReportOpts {
     ,no_elide_       :: Bool
     ,real_           :: Bool
     ,format_         :: StringFormat
-    ,query_          :: String -- ^ All query arguments space sepeareted
-                               --   and quoted if needed (see 'quoteIfNeeded')
+    ,query_          :: Query
+    ,queryopts_      :: [QueryOpt]
     --
     ,average_        :: Bool
     -- for posting reports (register)
@@ -167,52 +163,62 @@ defreportopts = ReportOpts
     def
     def
     def
+    def
 
 rawOptsToReportOpts :: RawOpts -> IO ReportOpts
 rawOptsToReportOpts rawopts = do
     d <- getCurrentDay
     no_color <- isJust <$> lookupEnv "NO_COLOR"
     supports_color <- hSupportsANSIColor stdout
-    let colorflag = stringopt "color" rawopts
 
-    format <- case parseStringFormat <$> maybestringopt "format" rawopts of
-         Nothing         -> return defaultBalanceLineFormat
-         Just (Right x)  -> return x
-         Just (Left err) -> usageError $ "could not parse format option: " ++ err
+    let colorflag    = stringopt "color" rawopts
+        formatstring = maybestringopt "format" rawopts
+        querystring  = T.pack . unwords . map quoteIfNeeded $
+                        listofstringopt "args" rawopts  -- doesn't handle an arg like "" right
 
-    return defreportopts{
-       today_       = Just d
-      ,period_      = periodFromRawOpts d rawopts
-      ,interval_    = intervalFromRawOpts rawopts
-      ,statuses_    = statusesFromRawOpts rawopts
-      ,value_       = valuationTypeFromRawOpts rawopts
-      ,infer_value_ = boolopt "infer-value" rawopts
-      ,depth_       = maybeposintopt "depth" rawopts
-      ,date2_       = boolopt "date2" rawopts
-      ,empty_       = boolopt "empty" rawopts
-      ,no_elide_    = boolopt "no-elide" rawopts
-      ,real_        = boolopt "real" rawopts
-      ,format_      = format
-      ,query_       = unwords . map quoteIfNeeded $ listofstringopt "args" rawopts -- doesn't handle an arg like "" right
-      ,average_     = boolopt "average" rawopts
-      ,related_     = boolopt "related" rawopts
-      ,txn_dates_   = boolopt "txn-dates" rawopts
-      ,balancetype_ = balancetypeopt rawopts
-      ,accountlistmode_ = accountlistmodeopt rawopts
-      ,drop_        = posintopt "drop" rawopts
-      ,row_total_   = boolopt "row-total" rawopts
-      ,no_total_    = boolopt "no-total" rawopts
-      ,sort_amount_ = boolopt "sort-amount" rawopts
-      ,percent_     = boolopt "percent" rawopts
-      ,invert_      = boolopt "invert" rawopts
-      ,pretty_tables_ = boolopt "pretty-tables" rawopts
-      ,color_       = and [not no_color
-                          ,not $ colorflag `elem` ["never","no"]
-                          ,colorflag `elem` ["always","yes"] || supports_color
-                          ]
-      ,forecast_    = forecastPeriodFromRawOpts d rawopts
-      ,transpose_   = boolopt "transpose" rawopts
-      }
+    format <- case parseStringFormat <$> formatstring of
+        Nothing         -> return defaultBalanceLineFormat
+        Just (Right x)  -> return x
+        Just (Left err) -> fail $ "could not parse format option: " ++ err
+
+    (argsquery, queryopts) <- either fail return $ parseQuery d querystring
+
+    let reportopts = defreportopts
+          {today_       = Just d
+          ,period_      = periodFromRawOpts d rawopts
+          ,interval_    = intervalFromRawOpts rawopts
+          ,statuses_    = statusesFromRawOpts rawopts
+          ,value_       = valuationTypeFromRawOpts rawopts
+          ,infer_value_ = boolopt "infer-value" rawopts
+          ,depth_       = maybeposintopt "depth" rawopts
+          ,date2_       = boolopt "date2" rawopts
+          ,empty_       = boolopt "empty" rawopts
+          ,no_elide_    = boolopt "no-elide" rawopts
+          ,real_        = boolopt "real" rawopts
+          ,format_      = format
+          ,query_       = simplifyQuery $ And [queryFromFlags reportopts, argsquery]
+          ,queryopts_   = queryopts
+          ,average_     = boolopt "average" rawopts
+          ,related_     = boolopt "related" rawopts
+          ,txn_dates_   = boolopt "txn-dates" rawopts
+          ,balancetype_ = balancetypeopt rawopts
+          ,accountlistmode_ = accountlistmodeopt rawopts
+          ,drop_        = posintopt "drop" rawopts
+          ,row_total_   = boolopt "row-total" rawopts
+          ,no_total_    = boolopt "no-total" rawopts
+          ,sort_amount_ = boolopt "sort-amount" rawopts
+          ,percent_     = boolopt "percent" rawopts
+          ,invert_      = boolopt "invert" rawopts
+          ,pretty_tables_ = boolopt "pretty-tables" rawopts
+          ,color_       = and [not no_color
+                              ,not $ colorflag `elem` ["never","no"]
+                              ,colorflag `elem` ["always","yes"] || supports_color
+                              ]
+          ,forecast_    = forecastPeriodFromRawOpts d rawopts
+          ,transpose_   = boolopt "transpose" rawopts
+          }
+
+    return reportopts
 
 accountlistmodeopt :: RawOpts -> AccountListMode
 accountlistmodeopt =
@@ -423,17 +429,9 @@ journalSelectingAmountFromOpts opts =
     Just (AtCost _) -> journalToCost
     _               -> id
 
--- | Convert report options and arguments to a query.
--- If there is a parsing problem, this function calls error.
-queryFromOpts :: Day -> ReportOpts -> Query
-queryFromOpts d ropts = simplifyQuery . And $ [flagsq, argsq]
-  where
-    flagsq = queryFromOptsOnly d ropts
-    argsq = fst $ either error' id $ parseQuery d (T.pack $ query_ ropts)  -- PARTIAL:
-
 -- | Convert report options to a query, ignoring any non-flag command line arguments.
-queryFromOptsOnly :: Day -> ReportOpts -> Query
-queryFromOptsOnly _d ReportOpts{..} = simplifyQuery $ And flagsq
+queryFromFlags :: ReportOpts -> Query
+queryFromFlags ReportOpts{..} = simplifyQuery $ And flagsq
   where
     flagsq = consIf   Real  real_
            . consIf   Empty empty_
@@ -444,11 +442,6 @@ queryFromOptsOnly _d ReportOpts{..} = simplifyQuery $ And flagsq
     consIf f b = if b then (f True:) else id
     consJust f = maybe id ((:) . f)
 
--- | Convert report options and arguments to query options.
--- If there is a parsing problem, this function calls error.
-queryOptsFromOpts :: Day -> ReportOpts -> [QueryOpt]
-queryOptsFromOpts d = snd . either error' id . parseQuery d . T.pack . query_  -- PARTIAL:
-
 -- Report dates.
 
 -- | The effective report span is the start and end dates specified by
@@ -477,9 +470,8 @@ reportEndDate j ropts = spanEnd <$> reportSpan j ropts
 -- Needs IO to parse smart dates in options/queries.
 specifiedStartEndDates :: ReportOpts -> IO (Maybe Day, Maybe Day)
 specifiedStartEndDates ropts = do
-  today <- getCurrentDay
   let
-    q = queryFromOpts today ropts
+    q = query_ ropts
     mspecifiedstartdate = queryStartDate False q
     mspecifiedenddate   = queryEndDate   False q
   return (mspecifiedstartdate, mspecifiedenddate)
@@ -498,9 +490,7 @@ specifiedEndDate ropts = snd <$> specifiedStartEndDates ropts
 -- since we need that to get the report period robustly
 -- (unlike reportStartDate, which looks up the date with IO.)
 reportPeriodStart :: ReportOpts -> Maybe Day
-reportPeriodStart ropts@ReportOpts{..} = do
-  t <- today_
-  queryStartDate False $ queryFromOpts t ropts
+reportPeriodStart = queryStartDate False . query_
 
 -- Get the report's start date, or if no report period is specified,
 -- the journal's start date (the earliest posting date). If there's no
@@ -517,11 +507,7 @@ reportPeriodOrJournalStart ropts j =
 -- since we need that to get the report period robustly
 -- (unlike reportEndDate, which looks up the date with IO.)
 reportPeriodLastDay :: ReportOpts -> Maybe Day
-reportPeriodLastDay ropts@ReportOpts{..} = do
-  t <- today_
-  let q = queryFromOpts t ropts
-  qend <- queryEndDate False q
-  return $ addDays (-1) qend
+reportPeriodLastDay = fmap (addDays (-1)) . queryEndDate False . query_
 
 -- Get the last day of the overall report period, or if no report
 -- period is specified, the last day of the journal (ie the latest
@@ -530,22 +516,3 @@ reportPeriodLastDay ropts@ReportOpts{..} = do
 reportPeriodOrJournalLastDay :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> Maybe Day
 reportPeriodOrJournalLastDay ropts j =
   reportPeriodLastDay ropts <|> journalEndDate False j
-
--- tests
-
-tests_ReportOptions = tests "ReportOptions" [
-   test "queryFromOpts" $ do
-       queryFromOpts nulldate defreportopts @?= Any
-       queryFromOpts nulldate defreportopts{query_="a"} @?= Acct (toRegexCI' "a")
-       queryFromOpts nulldate defreportopts{query_="desc:'a a'"} @?= Desc (toRegexCI' "a a")
-       queryFromOpts nulldate defreportopts{period_=PeriodFrom (fromGregorian 2012 01 01),query_="date:'to 2013'" }
-         @?= (Date $ DateSpan (Just $ fromGregorian 2012 01 01) (Just $ fromGregorian 2013 01 01))
-       queryFromOpts nulldate defreportopts{query_="date2:'in 2012'"} @?= (Date2 $ DateSpan (Just $ fromGregorian 2012 01 01) (Just $ fromGregorian 2013 01 01))
-       queryFromOpts nulldate defreportopts{query_="'a a' 'b"} @?= Or [Acct $ toRegexCI' "a a", Acct $ toRegexCI' "'b"]
-
-  ,test "queryOptsFromOpts" $ do
-      queryOptsFromOpts nulldate defreportopts @?= []
-      queryOptsFromOpts nulldate defreportopts{query_="a"} @?= []
-      queryOptsFromOpts nulldate defreportopts{period_=PeriodFrom (fromGregorian 2012 01 01)
-                                              ,query_="date:'to 2013'"} @?= []
- ]
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CliOptions.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CliOptions.hs
index 999d8b683..e034ac693 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CliOptions.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CliOptions.hs
@@ -518,8 +518,7 @@ getHledgerCliOpts' mode' args' = do
         putStrLn $ "running: " ++ progname'
         putStrLn $ "raw args: " ++ show args'
         putStrLn $ "processed opts:\n" ++ show opts
-        d <- getCurrentDay
-        putStrLn $ "search query: " ++ show (queryFromOpts d $ reportopts_ opts)
+        putStrLn $ "search query: " ++ show (query_ $ reportopts_ opts)
 
 getHledgerCliOpts :: Mode RawOpts -> IO CliOpts
 getHledgerCliOpts mode' = do
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
index ff3283872..73d25eadd 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands.hs
@@ -276,8 +276,8 @@ testmode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- not be used (and would raise an error).
 --
 testcmd :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
-testcmd opts _undefined = do 
-  withArgs (words' $ query_ $ reportopts_ opts) $
+testcmd opts _undefined = do
+  withArgs (listofstringopt "args" $ rawopts_ opts) $
     Test.Tasty.defaultMain $ tests "hledger" [
        tests_Hledger
       ,tests_Hledger_Cli
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Accounts.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Accounts.hs
index a62d88eb3..1c77e4efa 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Accounts.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Accounts.hs
@@ -51,11 +51,10 @@ accounts :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 accounts CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts, reportopts_=ropts} j = do
 
   -- 1. identify the accounts we'll show
-  d <- getCurrentDay
   let tree     = tree_ ropts
       declared = boolopt "declared" rawopts
       used     = boolopt "used"     rawopts
-      q        = queryFromOpts d ropts
+      q        = query_ ropts
       -- a depth limit will clip and exclude account names later, but we don't want to exclude accounts at this stage
       nodepthq = dbg1 "nodepthq" $ filterQuery (not . queryIsDepth) q
       -- just the acct: part of the query will be reapplied later, after clipping
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Activity.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Activity.hs
index b63f15f1e..1f39ae286 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Activity.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Activity.hs
@@ -30,23 +30,21 @@ barchar = '*'
 
 -- | Print a bar chart of number of postings per report interval.
 activity :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
-activity CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  putStr $ showHistogram ropts (queryFromOpts d ropts) j
+activity CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = putStr $ showHistogram ropts j
 
-showHistogram :: ReportOpts -> Query -> Journal -> String
-showHistogram opts q j = concatMap (printDayWith countBar) spanps
-    where
-      i = interval_ opts
-      interval | i == NoInterval = Days 1
-               | otherwise = i
-      span' = queryDateSpan (date2_ opts) q `spanDefaultsFrom` journalDateSpan (date2_ opts) j
-      spans = filter (DateSpan Nothing Nothing /=) $ splitSpan interval span'
-      spanps = [(s, filter (isPostingInDateSpan s) ps) | s <- spans]
-      -- same as Register
-      -- should count transactions, not postings ?
-      -- ps = sortBy (comparing postingDate) $ filterempties $ filter matchapats $ filterdepth $ journalPostings j
-      ps = sortOn postingDate $ filter (q `matchesPosting`) $ journalPostings j
+showHistogram :: ReportOpts -> Journal -> String
+showHistogram ReportOpts{query_=q,interval_=i,date2_=date2} j =
+    concatMap (printDayWith countBar) spanps
+  where
+    interval | i == NoInterval = Days 1
+             | otherwise = i
+    span' = queryDateSpan date2 q `spanDefaultsFrom` journalDateSpan date2 j
+    spans = filter (DateSpan Nothing Nothing /=) $ splitSpan interval span'
+    spanps = [(s, filter (isPostingInDateSpan s) ps) | s <- spans]
+    -- same as Register
+    -- should count transactions, not postings ?
+    -- ps = sortBy (comparing postingDate) $ filterempties $ filter matchapats $ filterdepth $ journalPostings j
+    ps = sortOn postingDate $ filter (q `matchesPosting`) $ journalPostings j
 
 printDayWith f (DateSpan b _, ps) = printf "%s %s\n" (show $ fromJust b) (f ps)
 
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Add.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Add.hs
index 36cf89b79..bc54c8bf3 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Add.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Add.hs
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ confirmedTransactionWizard prevInput es@EntryState{..} stack@(currentStage : _)
 -- Identify the closest recent match for this description in past transactions.
 similarTransaction :: EntryState -> Text -> Maybe Transaction
 similarTransaction EntryState{..} desc =
-  let q = queryFromOptsOnly esToday $ reportopts_ esOpts
+  let q = queryFromFlags $ reportopts_ esOpts
       historymatches = transactionsSimilarTo esJournal q desc
       bestmatch | null historymatches = Nothing
                 | otherwise           = Just $ snd $ head historymatches
@@ -461,9 +461,8 @@ ensureOneNewlineTerminated = (++"\n") . reverse . dropWhile (=='\n') . reverse
 -- | Convert a string of journal data into a register report.
 registerFromString :: String -> IO String
 registerFromString s = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
   j <- readJournal' $ T.pack s
-  return $ postingsReportAsText opts $ postingsReport ropts (queryFromOpts d ropts) j
+  return . postingsReportAsText opts $ postingsReport ropts j
       where
         ropts = defreportopts{empty_=True}
         opts = defcliopts{reportopts_=ropts}
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs
index 87230a339..86bb6eefb 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Aregister (
  ,tests_Aregister
 ) where
 
-import Control.Monad (when)
 import Data.Aeson (toJSON)
 import Data.Aeson.Text (encodeToLazyText)
 import Data.List
@@ -75,10 +74,11 @@ aregister :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 aregister opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} j = do
   d <- getCurrentDay
   -- the first argument specifies the account, any remaining arguments are a filter query
-  let args' = listofstringopt "args" rawopts
-  when (null args') $ error' "aregister needs an account, please provide an account name or pattern"  -- PARTIAL:
+  (apat,querystring) <- case listofstringopt "args" rawopts of
+      []     -> fail "aregister needs an account, please provide an account name or pattern"
+      (a:as) -> return (a, T.pack . unwords $ map quoteIfNeeded as)
+  argsquery <- either fail (return . fst) $ parseQuery d querystring
   let
-    (apat:queryargs) = args'
     acct = headDef (error' $ show apat++" did not match any account")   -- PARTIAL:
            . filterAccts $ journalAccountNames j
     filterAccts = case toRegexCI apat of
@@ -88,13 +88,13 @@ aregister opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} j = do
     inclusive = True  -- tree_ ropts
     thisacctq = Acct $ (if inclusive then accountNameToAccountRegex else accountNameToAccountOnlyRegex) acct
     ropts' = ropts{
-       query_=unwords $ map quoteIfNeeded $ queryargs
+       query_=simplifyQuery $ And [queryFromFlags ropts, argsquery]
        -- remove a depth limit for reportq, as in RegisterScreen, I forget why XXX
       ,depth_=Nothing
        -- always show historical balance
       ,balancetype_= HistoricalBalance
       }
-    reportq = And [queryFromOpts d ropts', excludeforecastq (isJust $ forecast_ ropts)]
+    reportq = And [query_ ropts', excludeforecastq (isJust $ forecast_ ropts)]
       where
         -- As in RegisterScreen, why ? XXX
         -- Except in forecast mode, exclude future/forecast transactions.
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
index 5f196079d..b966cf90c 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
@@ -305,14 +305,13 @@ balancemode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- | The balance command, prints a balance report.
 balance :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 balance opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts@ReportOpts{..}} j = do
-    d <- getCurrentDay
     let budget      = boolopt "budget" rawopts
         multiperiod = interval_ /= NoInterval
         fmt         = outputFormatFromOpts opts
 
     if budget then do  -- single or multi period budget report
       reportspan <- reportSpan j ropts
-      let budgetreport = dbg4 "budgetreport" $ budgetReport ropts assrt reportspan d j
+      let budgetreport = dbg4 "budgetreport" $ budgetReport ropts assrt reportspan j
             where
               assrt = not $ ignore_assertions_ $ inputopts_ opts
           render = case fmt of
@@ -323,7 +322,7 @@ balance opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts@ReportOpts{..}} j = do
 
     else
       if multiperiod then do  -- multi period balance report
-        let report = multiBalanceReport d ropts j
+        let report = multiBalanceReport ropts j
             render = case fmt of
               "txt"  -> multiBalanceReportAsText ropts
               "csv"  -> (++"\n") . printCSV . multiBalanceReportAsCsv ropts
@@ -333,7 +332,7 @@ balance opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts@ReportOpts{..}} j = do
         writeOutput opts $ render report
 
       else do  -- single period simple balance report
-        let report = balanceReport ropts (queryFromOpts d ropts) j -- simple Ledger-style balance report
+        let report = balanceReport ropts j -- simple Ledger-style balance report
             render = case fmt of
               "txt"  -> balanceReportAsText
               "csv"  -> \ropts r -> (++ "\n") $ printCSV $ balanceReportAsCsv ropts r
@@ -622,7 +621,7 @@ tests_Balance = tests "Balance" [
     test "unicode in balance layout" $ do
       j <- readJournal' "2009/01/01 * медвежья шкура\n  расходы:покупки  100\n  актив:наличные\n"
       let opts = defreportopts
-      balanceReportAsText opts (balanceReport opts (queryFromOpts (fromGregorian 2008 11 26) opts) j)
+      balanceReportAsText opts (balanceReport opts{today_=Just $ fromGregorian 2008 11 26} j)
         @?=
         unlines
         ["                -100  актив:наличные"
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Checkdates.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Checkdates.hs
index 1441cfa6d..396b38fba 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Checkdates.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Checkdates.hs
@@ -22,10 +22,8 @@ checkdatesmode = hledgerCommandMode
 
 checkdates :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 checkdates CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
   let ropts_ = ropts{accountlistmode_=ALFlat}
-  let q = queryFromOpts d ropts_
-  let ts = filter (q `matchesTransaction`) $
+  let ts = filter (query_ ropts_ `matchesTransaction`) $
            jtxns $ journalSelectingAmountFromOpts ropts j
   let strict = boolopt "strict" rawopts
   let date = transactionDateFn ropts
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Close.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Close.hs
index 3c56fbb2d..da5b19b8e 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Close.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Close.hs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ close CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts, reportopts_=ropts} j = do
 
     -- dates of the closing and opening transactions
     ropts_ = ropts{balancetype_=HistoricalBalance, accountlistmode_=ALFlat}
-    q = queryFromOpts today ropts_
+    q = query_ ropts_
     openingdate = fromMaybe today $ queryEndDate False q
     closingdate = addDays (-1) openingdate
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ close CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts, reportopts_=ropts} j = do
                   False -> normaliseMixedAmount . mixedAmountStripPrices
 
     -- the balances to close
-    (acctbals,_) = balanceReport ropts_ q j
+    (acctbals,_) = balanceReport ropts_ j
     totalamt = sum $ map (\(_,_,_,b) -> normalise b) acctbals
 
     -- since balance assertion amounts are required to be exact, the
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Codes.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Codes.hs
index 11b4d6e0c..5c085f666 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Codes.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Codes.hs
@@ -33,10 +33,7 @@ codesmode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- | The codes command.
 codes :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 codes CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts@ReportOpts{empty_}} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  let q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
-      ts = entriesReport ropts q j
+  let ts = entriesReport ropts j
       codes = (if empty_ then id else filter (not . T.null)) $
               map tcode ts
-
   mapM_ T.putStrLn codes
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
index b41b53ea7..9e84db5b0 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
@@ -32,9 +32,7 @@ descriptionsmode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- | The descriptions command.
 descriptions :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 descriptions CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  let q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
-      ts = entriesReport ropts q j
+  let ts = entriesReport ropts j
       descriptions = nubSort $ map tdescription ts
 
   mapM_ T.putStrLn descriptions
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Diff.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Diff.hs
index aa5bfb64f..78a63c40d 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Diff.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Diff.hs
@@ -102,11 +102,11 @@ unmatchedtxns s pp m =
 
 -- | The diff command.
 diff :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
-diff CliOpts{file_=[f1, f2], reportopts_=ReportOpts{query_=acctName}} _ = do
+diff CliOpts{file_=[f1, f2], reportopts_=ReportOpts{query_=Acct acctRe}} _ = do
   j1 <- readJournalFile' f1
   j2 <- readJournalFile' f2
 
-  let acct = T.pack acctName
+  let acct = T.pack $ reString acctRe
   let pp1 = matchingPostings acct j1
   let pp2 = matchingPostings acct j2
 
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
index eaba24c5b..2214d1c2e 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ notesmode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- | The notes command.
 notes :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 notes CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  let q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
-      ts = entriesReport ropts q j
+  let ts = entriesReport ropts j
       notes = nubSort $ map transactionNote ts
-
   mapM_ T.putStrLn notes
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
index ca6a080f6..fbc1a751c 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ payeesmode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- | The payees command.
 payees :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 payees CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  let q  = queryFromOpts d ropts
-      ts = entriesReport ropts q j
+  let ts = entriesReport ropts j
       payees = nubSort $ map transactionPayee ts
-
   mapM_ T.putStrLn payees
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Prices.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Prices.hs
index 584e7b9da..746420a83 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Prices.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Prices.hs
@@ -25,10 +25,9 @@ pricesmode = hledgerCommandMode
 
 -- XXX the original hledger-prices script always ignored assertions
 prices opts j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
   let
     styles     = journalCommodityStyles j
-    q          = queryFromOpts d (reportopts_ opts)
+    q          = query_ $ reportopts_ opts
     ps         = filter (matchesPosting q) $ allPostings j
     mprices    = jpricedirectives j
     cprices    = map (stylePriceDirectiveExceptPrecision styles) $ concatMap postingsPriceDirectivesFromCosts ps
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs
index aa5272091..da9ffbbd5 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs
@@ -54,16 +54,14 @@ print' opts j = do
 
 printEntries :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 printEntries opts@CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  let q = queryFromOpts d ropts
-      fmt = outputFormatFromOpts opts
+  let fmt = outputFormatFromOpts opts
       render = case fmt of
         "txt"  -> entriesReportAsText opts
         "csv"  -> (++"\n") . printCSV . entriesReportAsCsv
         "json" -> (++"\n") . TL.unpack . toJsonText
         "sql"  -> entriesReportAsSql
         _      -> const $ error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
-  writeOutput opts $ render $ entriesReport ropts q j
+  writeOutput opts $ render $ entriesReport ropts j
 
 entriesReportAsText :: CliOpts -> EntriesReport -> String
 entriesReportAsText opts = concatMap (showTransaction . whichtxn)
@@ -185,11 +183,9 @@ postingToCSV p =
 -- (and the query, if any).
 printMatch :: CliOpts -> Journal -> Text -> IO ()
 printMatch CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j desc = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
-  let q = queryFromOpts d ropts
-  case similarTransaction' j q desc of
-                Nothing -> putStrLn "no matches found."
-                Just t  -> putStr $ showTransaction t
+  case similarTransaction' j (query_ ropts) desc of
+      Nothing -> putStrLn "no matches found."
+      Just t  -> putStr $ showTransaction t
 
   where
     -- Identify the closest recent match for this description in past transactions.
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs
index 5d9a31e6a..a74b89569 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import Data.Maybe
 -- import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import qualified Data.Text.Lazy as TL
-import Data.Time (fromGregorian)
 import System.Console.CmdArgs.Explicit
 import Hledger.Read.CsvReader (CSV, CsvRecord, printCSV)
 
@@ -60,13 +59,12 @@ registermode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- | Print a (posting) register report.
 register :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 register opts@CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  d <- getCurrentDay
   let fmt = outputFormatFromOpts opts
       render | fmt=="txt"  = postingsReportAsText
              | fmt=="csv"  = const ((++"\n") . printCSV . postingsReportAsCsv)
              | fmt=="json" = const ((++"\n") . TL.unpack . toJsonText)
              | otherwise   = const $ error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
-  writeOutput opts $ render opts $ postingsReport ropts (queryFromOpts d ropts) j
+  writeOutput opts . render opts $ postingsReport ropts j
 
 postingsReportAsCsv :: PostingsReport -> CSV
 postingsReportAsCsv (_,is) =
@@ -201,7 +199,7 @@ tests_Register = tests "Register" [
     test "unicode in register layout" $ do
       j <- readJournal' "2009/01/01 * медвежья шкура\n  расходы:покупки  100\n  актив:наличные\n"
       let opts = defreportopts
-      (postingsReportAsText defcliopts $ postingsReport opts (queryFromOpts (fromGregorian 2008 11 26) opts) j)
+      (postingsReportAsText defcliopts $ postingsReport opts j)
         @?=
         unlines
         ["2009-01-01 медвежья шкура       расходы:покупки                100           100"
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Registermatch.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Registermatch.hs
index 228db6b22..f551d62f5 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Registermatch.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Registermatch.hs
@@ -22,13 +22,10 @@ registermatchmode = hledgerCommandMode
   ([], Just $ argsFlag "DESC")
 
 registermatch :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
-registermatch opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} j = do
-  let args' = listofstringopt "args" rawopts
-  case args' of
+registermatch opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} j =
+  case listofstringopt "args" rawopts of
     [desc] -> do
-        d <- getCurrentDay
-        let q  = queryFromOptsOnly d ropts
-            (_,pris) = postingsReport ropts q j
+        let (_,pris) = postingsReport ropts j
             ps = [p | (_,_,_,p,_) <- pris]
         case similarPosting ps desc of
           Nothing -> putStrLn "no matches found."
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Rewrite.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Rewrite.hs
index 7c481fb12..c83e25a48 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Rewrite.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Rewrite.hs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Rewrite (
 where
 
 #if !(MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0))
-import Control.Monad.Writer
+import Control.Monad.Writer hiding (Any)
 #endif
 import Data.Functor.Identity
 import Data.List (sortOn, foldl')
@@ -42,15 +42,15 @@ rewrite opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} j@Journal{jtxns=ts} = d
   let modifiers = transactionModifierFromOpts opts : jtxnmodifiers j
   let j' = j{jtxns=either error' id $ modifyTransactions d modifiers ts}  -- PARTIAL:
   -- run the print command, showing all transactions, or show diffs
-  printOrDiff rawopts opts{reportopts_=ropts{query_=""}} j j'
+  printOrDiff rawopts opts{reportopts_=ropts{query_=Any}} j j'
 
 -- | Build a 'TransactionModifier' from any query arguments and --add-posting flags
 -- provided on the command line, or throw a parse error.
 transactionModifierFromOpts :: CliOpts -> TransactionModifier
-transactionModifierFromOpts CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} =
-  TransactionModifier{tmquerytxt=q, tmpostingrules=ps}
+transactionModifierFromOpts CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts} =
+    TransactionModifier{tmquerytxt=q, tmpostingrules=ps}
   where
-    q = T.pack $ query_ ropts
+    q = T.pack . unwords . map quoteIfNeeded $ listofstringopt "args" rawopts
     ps = map (parseposting . T.pack) $ listofstringopt "add-posting" rawopts
     parseposting t = either (error' . errorBundlePretty) id ep  -- PARTIAL:
       where
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Roi.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Roi.hs
index f44b4e3d3..3ede7b97b 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Roi.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Roi.hs
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import Data.Function (on)
 import Data.List
 import Numeric.RootFinding
 import Data.Decimal
+import qualified Data.Text as T
 import System.Console.CmdArgs.Explicit as CmdArgs
 
 import Text.Tabular as Tbl
@@ -54,11 +55,16 @@ roi ::  CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 roi CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts, reportopts_=ropts} j = do
   d <- getCurrentDay
   let
-    investmentsQuery = queryFromOpts d $ ropts{query_ = stringopt "investment" rawopts,period_=PeriodAll}
-    pnlQuery         = queryFromOpts d $ ropts{query_ = stringopt "pnl" rawopts,period_=PeriodAll}
-    showCashFlow      = boolopt "cashflow" rawopts
-    prettyTables     = pretty_tables_ ropts
+    showCashFlow = boolopt "cashflow" rawopts
+    prettyTables = pretty_tables_ ropts
+    makeQuery flag = do
+        q <- either usageError (return . fst) . parseQuery d . T.pack $ stringopt flag rawopts
+        return . simplifyQuery $ And [queryFromFlags ropts{period_=PeriodAll}, q]
 
+  investmentsQuery <- makeQuery "investment"
+  pnlQuery         <- makeQuery "pnl"
+
+  let
     trans = dbg3 "investments" $ jtxns $ filterJournalTransactions investmentsQuery j
 
     journalSpan =
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Stats.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Stats.hs
index 88d7fb333..daf62b545 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Stats.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Stats.hs
@@ -42,12 +42,11 @@ statsmode = hledgerCommandMode
 -- like Register.summarisePostings
 -- | Print various statistics for the journal.
 stats :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
-stats opts@CliOpts{reportopts_=reportopts_} j = do
+stats opts@CliOpts{reportopts_=ReportOpts{query_=q, interval_=interval}} j = do
   d <- getCurrentDay
-  let q = queryFromOpts d reportopts_
-      l = ledgerFromJournal q j
+  let l = ledgerFromJournal q j
       reportspan = (ledgerDateSpan l) `spanDefaultsFrom` (queryDateSpan False q)
-      intervalspans = splitSpan (interval_ reportopts_) reportspan
+      intervalspans = splitSpan interval reportspan
       showstats = showLedgerStats l d
       s = intercalate "\n" $ map showstats intervalspans
   writeOutput opts s
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Tags.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Tags.hs
index 82410706f..926e94813 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Tags.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Tags.hs
@@ -28,15 +28,17 @@ tagsmode = hledgerCommandMode
 tags :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()
 tags CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportopts_=ropts} j = do
   d <- getCurrentDay
-  let
-    args      = listofstringopt "args" rawopts
+  let args = listofstringopt "args" rawopts
   mtagpat <- mapM (either Fail.fail pure . toRegexCI) $ headMay args
   let
-    queryargs = drop 1 args
-    values    = boolopt "values" rawopts
-    parsed    = boolopt "parsed" rawopts
-    empty     = empty_ ropts
-    q = queryFromOpts d $ ropts{query_ = unwords $ map quoteIfNeeded queryargs}
+    querystring = T.pack . unwords . map quoteIfNeeded $ drop 1 args
+    values      = boolopt "values" rawopts
+    parsed      = boolopt "parsed" rawopts
+    empty       = empty_ ropts
+
+  argsquery <- either usageError (return . fst) $ parseQuery d querystring
+  let
+    q = simplifyQuery $ And [queryFromFlags ropts, argsquery]
     txns = filter (q `matchesTransaction`) $ jtxns $ journalSelectingAmountFromOpts ropts j
     tagsorvalues =
       (if parsed then id else nubSort)
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs
index 2d701a719..516e918e7 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ compoundBalanceCommandMode CompoundBalanceCommandSpec{..} =
 -- | Generate a runnable command from a compound balance command specification.
 compoundBalanceCommand :: CompoundBalanceCommandSpec -> (CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ())
 compoundBalanceCommand CompoundBalanceCommandSpec{..} opts@CliOpts{reportopts_=ropts@ReportOpts{..}, rawopts_=rawopts} j = do
-    today <- getCurrentDay
     let
       -- use the default balance type for this report, unless the user overrides
       mBalanceTypeOverride =
@@ -121,7 +120,7 @@ compoundBalanceCommand CompoundBalanceCommandSpec{..} opts@CliOpts{reportopts_=r
               _                 -> showDateSpan requestedspan
             where
               enddates = map (addDays (-1)) . mapMaybe spanEnd $ cbrDates cbr  -- these spans will always have a definite end date
-              requestedspan = queryDateSpan date2_ (queryFromOpts today ropts')
+              requestedspan = queryDateSpan date2_ query_
                                   `spanDefaultsFrom` journalDateSpan date2_ j
 
           -- when user overrides, add an indication to the report title
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ compoundBalanceCommand CompoundBalanceCommandSpec{..} opts@CliOpts{reportopts_=r
             where multiperiod = interval_ /= NoInterval
 
       -- make a CompoundBalanceReport.
-      cbr' = compoundBalanceReport today ropts' j cbcqueries
+      cbr' = compoundBalanceReport ropts' j cbcqueries
       cbr  = cbr'{cbrTitle=title}
 
     -- render appropriately
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Main.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Main.hs
index e9fc21965..8e9ab1c71 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Main.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Main.hs
@@ -151,10 +151,9 @@ main = do
   dbgIO "isInternalCommand" isInternalCommand
   dbgIO "isExternalCommand" isExternalCommand
   dbgIO "isBadCommand" isBadCommand
-  d <- getCurrentDay
   dbgIO "period from opts" (period_ $ reportopts_ opts)
   dbgIO "interval from opts" (interval_ $ reportopts_ opts)
-  dbgIO "query from opts & args" (queryFromOpts d $ reportopts_ opts)
+  dbgIO "query from opts & args" (query_ $ reportopts_ opts)
   let
     journallesserror = error "journal-less command tried to use the journal"
     runHledgerCommand