diff --git a/client/components/SearchFilterPanel.jsx b/client/components/SearchFilterPanel.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab2f6d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/components/SearchFilterPanel.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import { ChevronDown, ChevronUp, Search, X } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+
+export default function SearchFilterPanel({
+  title = 'Search & filters',
+  collapsed,
+  onCollapsedChange,
+  hasFilters,
+  resultLabel,
+  sortLabel,
+  onClear,
+  children,
+  className,
+  variant = 'default',
+}) {
+  const embedded = variant === 'embedded';
+  const ToggleIcon = collapsed ? ChevronUp : ChevronDown;
+
+  return (
+    <section className={cn(
+      embedded
+        ? 'rounded-lg'
+        : 'rounded-xl border border-border/80 bg-card/95 shadow-sm shadow-black/15',
+      className,
+    )}>
+      <div className={cn('flex flex-wrap items-center gap-3', embedded ? 'py-1' : 'px-4 py-3')}>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={() => onCollapsedChange?.(!collapsed)}
+          aria-expanded={!collapsed}
+          className="group inline-flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-3 rounded-md text-left focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+        >
+          <span className="flex h-8 w-8 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg border border-primary/15 bg-primary/10 text-primary">
+            <Search className="h-4 w-4" />
+          </span>
+          <span className="min-w-0">
+            <span className="block text-sm font-semibold text-foreground">{title}</span>
+            <span className="block truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              {[resultLabel, hasFilters ? 'filters active' : 'no filters', sortLabel].filter(Boolean).join(' · ')}
+            </span>
+          </span>
+          <ToggleIcon className="ml-auto h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground transition-colors group-hover:text-foreground" />
+        </button>
+
+        {hasFilters && onClear && (
+          <Button type="button" variant="ghost" onClick={onClear} className="h-8 gap-2 px-2.5 text-xs">
+            <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+            Clear
+          </Button>
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {!collapsed && (
+        <div className={cn(
+          'space-y-3',
+          embedded ? 'pt-3' : 'border-t border-border/60 px-4 py-4',
+        )}>
+          {children}
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </section>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/client/hooks/useSearchPanelPreference.js b/client/hooks/useSearchPanelPreference.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6438841
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/hooks/useSearchPanelPreference.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { api } from '@/api';
+
+const SETTING_KEY = 'search_bars_collapsed';
+
+function settingToBool(value) {
+  return value === true || value === 'true' || value === '1' || value === 1;
+}
+
+export function useSearchPanelPreference() {
+  const [collapsed, setCollapsed] = useState(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let mounted = true;
+    api.settings()
+      .then(settings => {
+        if (mounted && settings?.[SETTING_KEY] !== undefined && settings?.[SETTING_KEY] !== null) {
+          setCollapsed(settingToBool(settings[SETTING_KEY]));
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(() => {});
+
+    return () => { mounted = false; };
+  }, []);
+
+  const saveCollapsed = useCallback((nextCollapsed) => {
+    setCollapsed(nextCollapsed);
+    api.saveSettings({ [SETTING_KEY]: nextCollapsed ? 'true' : 'false' }).catch(() => {});
+  }, []);
+
+  return [collapsed, saveCollapsed];
+}
diff --git a/client/pages/BillsPage.jsx b/client/pages/BillsPage.jsx
index a4edbec..87b8e1b 100644
--- a/client/pages/BillsPage.jsx
+++ b/client/pages/BillsPage.jsx
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import React, { useEffect, useState, useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { Plus, ChevronRight, SlidersHorizontal, Search, Trash2, X } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Plus, ChevronRight, SlidersHorizontal, Search, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
+import SearchFilterPanel from '@/components/SearchFilterPanel';
 
 import {
   Dialog, DialogContent, DialogHeader, DialogTitle, DialogFooter,
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/components/ui/select';
 import { api } from '@/api';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { useSearchPanelPreference } from '@/hooks/useSearchPanelPreference';
 import { moveInArray, movedItemId, reorderPayload } from '@/lib/reorder';
 import BillsTableInner from '@/components/BillsTableInner';
 import BillModal from '@/components/BillModal';
@@ -629,6 +631,7 @@ export default function BillsPage() {
   const [billsSort, setBillsSort] = useState(() => (
     localStorage.getItem(BILLS_SORT_KEY) === 'cadence' ? 'cadence' : 'custom'
   ));
+  const [searchPanelCollapsed, setSearchPanelCollapsed] = useSearchPanelPreference();
 
   useEffect(() => {
     localStorage.setItem(BILLS_SORT_KEY, billsSort);
@@ -944,8 +947,16 @@ export default function BillsPage() {
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div className="surface-elevated rounded-xl p-4 space-y-3">
-        <div className="grid gap-3 lg:grid-cols-[minmax(220px,1fr)_220px_180px_auto] lg:items-center">
+      <SearchFilterPanel
+        title="Search & filters"
+        collapsed={searchPanelCollapsed}
+        onCollapsedChange={setSearchPanelCollapsed}
+        hasFilters={hasFilters}
+        resultLabel={`${filteredBills.length} of ${bills.length} shown`}
+        onClear={resetFilters}
+        className="surface-elevated"
+      >
+        <div className="grid gap-3 lg:grid-cols-[minmax(220px,1fr)_220px_180px] lg:items-center">
           <label className="relative">
             <Search className="pointer-events-none absolute left-3 top-1/2 h-4 w-4 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground" />
             <Input
@@ -977,16 +988,6 @@ export default function BillsPage() {
               ))}
             </SelectContent>
           </Select>
-          <Button
-            type="button"
-            variant="ghost"
-            disabled={!hasFilters}
-            onClick={resetFilters}
-            className="h-10 justify-center gap-2 text-xs"
-          >
-            <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            Clear
-          </Button>
         </div>
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
           <FilterChip active={filters.autopay} onClick={() => toggleFilter('autopay')}>Autopay</FilterChip>
@@ -998,7 +999,7 @@ export default function BillsPage() {
             {filteredBills.length} of {bills.length} shown
           </span>
         </div>
-      </div>
+      </SearchFilterPanel>
 
       {/* ── Active Bills ── */}
       {!filters.inactive && (
diff --git a/client/pages/SubscriptionsPage.jsx b/client/pages/SubscriptionsPage.jsx
index 8b67f29..caeb2e2 100644
--- a/client/pages/SubscriptionsPage.jsx
+++ b/client/pages/SubscriptionsPage.jsx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import SearchFilterPanel from '@/components/SearchFilterPanel';
 import {
   Dialog, DialogContent, DialogFooter, DialogHeader, DialogTitle,
 } from '@/components/ui/dialog';
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ import {
 import BillModal from '@/components/BillModal';
 import BillHistoricalImportDialog from '@/components/BillHistoricalImportDialog';
 import { getLinkImportPref } from '@/pages/SettingsPage';
+import { useSearchPanelPreference } from '@/hooks/useSearchPanelPreference';
 import { moveInArray, movedItemId, reorderPayload } from '@/lib/reorder';
 
 const TYPE_LABELS = {
@@ -967,6 +969,7 @@ export default function SubscriptionsPage() {
   const [draggingId, setDraggingId] = useState(null);
   const [dropTargetId, setDropTargetId] = useState(null);
   const [movingBillId, setMovingBillId] = useState(null);
+  const [searchPanelCollapsed, setSearchPanelCollapsed] = useSearchPanelPreference();
 
   const [txQuery, setTxQuery]         = useState('');
   const [txResults, setTxResults]     = useState([]);
@@ -1415,25 +1418,35 @@ export default function SubscriptionsPage() {
                 </div>
               </TooltipProvider>
             </div>
-            <div className="relative">
-              <Search className="pointer-events-none absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground" />
-              <Input
-                value={subSearch}
-                onChange={e => setSubSearch(e.target.value)}
-                placeholder="Search subscriptions…"
-                className="h-8 pl-8 pr-8 text-sm"
-              />
-              {subSearch && (
-                <button
-                  type="button"
-                  onClick={() => setSubSearch('')}
-                  className="absolute right-2.5 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
-                  aria-label="Clear search"
-                >
-                  <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-                </button>
-              )}
-            </div>
+            <SearchFilterPanel
+              title="Search subscriptions"
+              collapsed={searchPanelCollapsed}
+              onCollapsedChange={setSearchPanelCollapsed}
+              hasFilters={!!subSearch.trim()}
+              resultLabel={`${filteredSubscriptions.length} of ${subscriptions.length} shown`}
+              onClear={() => setSubSearch('')}
+              variant="embedded"
+            >
+              <div className="relative">
+                <Search className="pointer-events-none absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground" />
+                <Input
+                  value={subSearch}
+                  onChange={e => setSubSearch(e.target.value)}
+                  placeholder="Search subscriptions…"
+                  className="h-8 pl-8 pr-8 text-sm"
+                />
+                {subSearch && (
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={() => setSubSearch('')}
+                    className="absolute right-2.5 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
+                    aria-label="Clear search"
+                  >
+                    <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                  </button>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            </SearchFilterPanel>
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent className="p-0">
             {loading ? (
@@ -1470,16 +1483,26 @@ export default function SubscriptionsPage() {
             </div>
             <CardDescription>Known subscription services found in your bank transactions with 90%+ confidence.</CardDescription>
             {!recommendationsLoading && highConfidenceRecs.length > 0 && (
-              <div className="relative mt-2">
-                <Search className="absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
-                <Input
-                  type="search"
-                  placeholder="Search recommendations…"
-                  value={recSearch}
-                  onChange={e => setRecSearch(e.target.value)}
-                  className="pl-8 h-8 text-sm"
-                />
-              </div>
+              <SearchFilterPanel
+                title="Search recommendations"
+                collapsed={searchPanelCollapsed}
+                onCollapsedChange={setSearchPanelCollapsed}
+                hasFilters={!!recSearch.trim()}
+                resultLabel={`${filteredRecs.length} of ${highConfidenceRecs.length} shown`}
+                onClear={() => setRecSearch('')}
+                variant="embedded"
+              >
+                <div className="relative">
+                  <Search className="absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
+                  <Input
+                    type="search"
+                    placeholder="Search recommendations…"
+                    value={recSearch}
+                    onChange={e => setRecSearch(e.target.value)}
+                    className="pl-8 h-8 text-sm"
+                  />
+                </div>
+              </SearchFilterPanel>
             )}
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent className="space-y-3">
@@ -1538,17 +1561,27 @@ export default function SubscriptionsPage() {
           <CardDescription>
             Search all account charges — matched and unmatched — to find subscriptions the algorithm may have missed.
           </CardDescription>
-          <div className="relative mt-2">
-            <Search className="absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
-            <Input
-              type="search"
-              placeholder="Search by merchant, description, or payee…"
-              value={txQuery}
-              onChange={e => setTxQuery(e.target.value)}
-              className="pl-8 h-9 text-sm"
-              autoComplete="off"
-            />
-          </div>
+          <SearchFilterPanel
+            title="Search transactions"
+            collapsed={searchPanelCollapsed}
+            onCollapsedChange={setSearchPanelCollapsed}
+            hasFilters={!!txQuery.trim()}
+            resultLabel={txQuery.trim() ? `${txResults.length} result${txResults.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}` : 'all bank transactions'}
+            onClear={() => setTxQuery('')}
+            variant="embedded"
+          >
+            <div className="relative">
+              <Search className="absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
+              <Input
+                type="search"
+                placeholder="Search by merchant, description, or payee…"
+                value={txQuery}
+                onChange={e => setTxQuery(e.target.value)}
+                className="pl-8 h-9 text-sm"
+                autoComplete="off"
+              />
+            </div>
+          </SearchFilterPanel>
         </CardHeader>
 
         {(txQuery.trim() || txSearching) && (
diff --git a/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx b/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx
index f4100a0..62c2890 100644
--- a/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx
+++ b/client/pages/TrackerPage.jsx
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useMemo, useCallback } from 'react';
 import { useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, AlertCircle, CheckCircle2, Plus, Search, X, RefreshCw, Landmark, ArrowUpToLine, ArrowUp, ArrowDown } from 'lucide-react';
+import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, AlertCircle, CheckCircle2, Plus, Search, RefreshCw, Landmark, ArrowUpToLine, ArrowUp, ArrowDown } from 'lucide-react';
 import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { api } from '@/api.js';
 import { useTracker, useDriftReport } from '@/hooks/useQueries';
+import { useSearchPanelPreference } from '@/hooks/useSearchPanelPreference';
 import BillModal from '@/components/BillModal';
 import { makeBillDraft } from '@/lib/billDrafts';
 import { scheduleLabel, scheduleValue } from '@/lib/billingSchedule';
 import { cn, fmt } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import SearchFilterPanel from '@/components/SearchFilterPanel';
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/Skeleton';
 import {
   Select, SelectTrigger, SelectValue, SelectContent, SelectItem,
@@ -124,6 +126,7 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
   const [incomeModalOpen,  setIncomeModalOpen]  = useState(false);
   const [orderedRows, setOrderedRows] = useState(null);
   const [movingBillId, setMovingBillId] = useState(null);
+  const [searchPanelCollapsed, setSearchPanelCollapsed] = useSearchPanelPreference();
 
   // Row to open in PaymentLedgerDialog via the overdue command center
   const [commandCenterPayRow, setCommandCenterPayRow] = useState(null);
@@ -496,8 +499,16 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
         </div>
       )}
 
-      <div className="rounded-xl border border-border/80 bg-card/95 p-4 shadow-sm shadow-black/15 space-y-3">
-        <div className="grid gap-3 md:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-[minmax(220px,1fr)_220px_180px_220px_auto_auto] xl:items-center">
+      <SearchFilterPanel
+        title="Search & sort"
+        collapsed={searchPanelCollapsed}
+        onCollapsedChange={setSearchPanelCollapsed}
+        hasFilters={hasFilters}
+        resultLabel={`${filteredRows.length} of ${rows.length} shown`}
+        sortLabel={hasSort ? `sorted by ${TRACKER_SORT_LABELS[sortKey]} ${sortDir === TRACKER_SORT_ASC ? 'ascending' : 'descending'}` : null}
+        onClear={resetFilters}
+      >
+        <div className="grid gap-3 md:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-[minmax(220px,1fr)_220px_180px_220px_auto] xl:items-center">
           <label className="relative">
             <Search className="pointer-events-none absolute left-3 top-1/2 h-4 w-4 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground" />
             <Input
@@ -550,16 +561,6 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
             {sortDir === TRACKER_SORT_ASC ? <ArrowUp className="h-3.5 w-3.5" /> : <ArrowDown className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />}
             <span>{sortDir === TRACKER_SORT_ASC ? 'Asc' : 'Desc'}</span>
           </Button>
-          <Button
-            type="button"
-            variant="ghost"
-            disabled={!hasFilters}
-            onClick={resetFilters}
-            className="h-10 justify-center gap-2 text-xs"
-          >
-            <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            Clear
-          </Button>
         </div>
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
           <FilterChip active={filters.unpaid} onClick={() => toggleFilter('unpaid')}>Unpaid</FilterChip>
@@ -577,7 +578,7 @@ export default function TrackerPage() {
             )}
           </span>
         </div>
-      </div>
+      </SearchFilterPanel>
 
       {/* ── Summary cards (backend already excludes skipped from totals) ── */}
       {loading ? (
diff --git a/services/userSettings.js b/services/userSettings.js
index 56b4128..c0a1c94 100644
--- a/services/userSettings.js
+++ b/services/userSettings.js
@@ -12,12 +12,17 @@ const USER_SETTING_KEYS = [
   'bank_tracking_account_id',
   'bank_tracking_pending_days',
   'bank_late_attribution_days',
+  'search_bars_collapsed',
 ];
 
+const USER_SETTING_DEFAULTS = {
+  search_bars_collapsed: 'false',
+};
+
 function defaultUserSettings() {
   const defaults = {};
   for (const key of USER_SETTING_KEYS) {
-    defaults[key] = getSetting(key);
+    defaults[key] = USER_SETTING_DEFAULTS[key] ?? getSetting(key);
   }
   return defaults;
 }