diff --git a/src/tt/tui.py b/src/tt/tui.py
index 254010e..a06d1a2 100644
--- a/src/tt/tui.py
+++ b/src/tt/tui.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from .utils import (
     get_colored_date,
 )
 
+DEFAULT_CATEGORY = "main"
 COLUMNS = ("ID", "Task", "Status", "Type", "Due", "Category")
 column_to_field = {
     0: "ID",
@@ -231,11 +232,16 @@ class TT(App):
             self.refresh_tasks()
 
     def action_add_task(self):
+        # if filtering on type, status, or category
+        # the new task should use the selected value
+        category = self.filters.get("category", DEFAULT_CATEGORY)
+        status = self.filters.get("status", TaskStatus.ZERO.value).split(",")[0]
+        type_ = self.filters.get("type", "").split(",")[0]
         new_task = add_task(
             text="New Task",
-            type="",
-            status=TaskStatus.ZERO.value,
-            category="main",
+            type=type_,
+            status=status,
+            category=category,
         )
         self.refresh_tasks(restore_cursor=False)
         self.move_cursor_to_task(new_task.id)