Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/properties/PropertiesDialog.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/properties/PropertiesDialog.java	(revision 19411)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/dialogs/properties/PropertiesDialog.java	(revision 19413)
@@ -824,5 +824,6 @@
         tagTable.setVisible(hasTags);
         tagTable.getTableHeader().setVisible(hasTags);
-        tagTableFilter.setVisible(hasTags);
+        boolean filterVisible = Config.getPref().getBoolean("properties.filter.visible", true);
+        tagTableFilter.setVisible(hasTags && filterVisible);
         selectSth.setVisible(!hasSelection);
         pluginHook.setVisible(hasSelection);