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diff --git a/commands/add.py b/commands/add.py
index 1b1a943..5f8a410 100644
--- a/commands/add.py
+++ b/commands/add.py
@@ -2,24 +2,10 @@
 
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
+from utils import get_tasks_file, validate_description
 
 
-def get_tasks_file():
-    """Get path to tasks file."""
-    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
-
-
-def validate_description(description):
-    """Validate task description."""
-    # NOTE: Validation logic scattered here - should be in utils (refactor bounty)
-    if not description:
-        raise ValueError("Description cannot be empty")
-    if len(description) > 200:
-        raise ValueError("Description too long (max 200 chars)")
-    return description.strip()
-
-
-def add_task(description):
+def add_task(description, json_output=False):
     """Add a new task."""
     description = validate_description(description)
 
@@ -34,4 +20,9 @@ def add_task(description):
     tasks.append({"id": task_id, "description": description, "done": False})
 
     tasks_file.write_text(json.dumps(tasks, indent=2))
-    print(f"Added task {task_id}: {description}")
+
+    if json_output:
+        result = {"success": True, "task_id": task_id, "description": description}
+        print(json.dumps(result))
+    else:
+        print(f"Added task {task_id}: {description}")
diff --git a/commands/done.py b/commands/done.py
index c9dfd42..1153f23 100644
--- a/commands/done.py
+++ b/commands/done.py
@@ -1,27 +1,19 @@
 """Mark task done command."""
 
 import json
-from pathlib import Path
+from utils import get_tasks_file, validate_task_file, validate_task_id
 
 
-def get_tasks_file():
-    """Get path to tasks file."""
-    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
-
-
-def validate_task_id(tasks, task_id):
-    """Validate task ID exists."""
-    # NOTE: Validation logic scattered here - should be in utils (refactor bounty)
-    if task_id < 1 or task_id > len(tasks):
-        raise ValueError(f"Invalid task ID: {task_id}")
-    return task_id
-
-
-def mark_done(task_id):
+def mark_done(task_id, json_output=False):
     """Mark a task as complete."""
     tasks_file = get_tasks_file()
-    if not tasks_file.exists():
-        print("No tasks found!")
+    tasks_file = validate_task_file(tasks_file)
+    
+    if not tasks_file:
+        if json_output:
+            print(json.dumps({"success": False, "error": "No tasks found"}))
+        else:
+            print("No tasks found!")
         return
 
     tasks = json.loads(tasks_file.read_text())
@@ -31,7 +23,13 @@ def mark_done(task_id):
         if task["id"] == task_id:
             task["done"] = True
             tasks_file.write_text(json.dumps(tasks, indent=2))
-            print(f"Marked task {task_id} as done: {task['description']}")
+            if json_output:
+                print(json.dumps({"success": True, "task_id": task_id, "description": task["description"]}))
+            else:
+                print(f"Marked task {task_id} as done: {task['description']}")
             return
 
-    print(f"Task {task_id} not found")
+    if json_output:
+        print(json.dumps({"success": False, "error": f"Task {task_id} not found"}))
+    else:
+        print(f"Task {task_id} not found")
diff --git a/commands/list.py b/commands/list.py
index 714315d..b5a506e 100644
--- a/commands/list.py
+++ b/commands/list.py
@@ -1,37 +1,34 @@
 """List tasks command."""
 
 import json
-from pathlib import Path
+from utils import get_tasks_file, validate_task_file
 
 
-def get_tasks_file():
-    """Get path to tasks file."""
-    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
-
-
-def validate_task_file():
-    """Validate tasks file exists."""
-    # NOTE: Validation logic scattered here - should be in utils (refactor bounty)
-    tasks_file = get_tasks_file()
-    if not tasks_file.exists():
-        return []
-    return tasks_file
-
-
-def list_tasks():
+def list_tasks(json_output=False):
     """List all tasks."""
-    # NOTE: No --json flag support yet (feature bounty)
-    tasks_file = validate_task_file()
+    tasks_file = get_tasks_file()
+    tasks_file = validate_task_file(tasks_file)
+    
     if not tasks_file:
-        print("No tasks yet!")
+        if json_output:
+            print(json.dumps({"success": True, "tasks": []}))
+        else:
+            print("No tasks yet!")
         return
 
     tasks = json.loads(tasks_file.read_text())
 
     if not tasks:
-        print("No tasks yet!")
+        if json_output:
+            print(json.dumps({"success": True, "tasks": []}))
+        else:
+            print("No tasks yet!")
         return
 
-    for task in tasks:
-        status = "✓" if task["done"] else " "
-        print(f"[{status}] {task['id']}. {task['description']}")
+    if json_output:
+        result = {"success": True, "tasks": tasks}
+        print(json.dumps(result))
+    else:
+        for task in tasks:
+            status = "[x]" if task["done"] else "[ ]"
+            print(f"{status} {task['id']}. {task['description']}")
diff --git a/commands/utils.py b/commands/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a679d7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/commands/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+"""Shared validation utilities for task-cli commands."""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def get_tasks_file():
+    """Get path to tasks file."""
+    return Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli" / "tasks.json"
+
+
+def validate_description(description):
+    """Validate task description."""
+    if not description:
+        raise ValueError("Description cannot be empty")
+    if len(description) > 200:
+        raise ValueError("Description too long (max 200 chars)")
+    return description.strip()
+
+
+def validate_task_file(tasks_file):
+    """Validate tasks file exists and return it, or None if missing."""
+    if not tasks_file.exists():
+        return None
+    return tasks_file
+
+
+def validate_task_id(tasks, task_id):
+    """Validate task ID exists in the tasks list."""
+    if task_id < 1 or task_id > len(tasks):
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid task ID: {task_id}")
+    return task_id
diff --git a/task.py b/task.py
index 53cc8ed..0cf7490 100644
--- a/task.py
+++ b/task.py
@@ -11,11 +11,29 @@
 
 
 def load_config():
-    """Load configuration from file."""
+    """Load configuration from file. Returns None if config is missing."""
     config_path = Path.home() / ".config" / "task-cli" / "config.yaml"
-    # NOTE: This will crash if config doesn't exist - known bug for bounty testing
-    with open(config_path) as f:
-        return f.read()
+    if not config_path.exists():
+        return None
+    try:
+        with open(config_path) as f:
+            return f.read()
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+
+
+def ensure_config():
+    """Ensure config file exists with defaults, otherwise create it."""
+    config_path = Path.home() / ".config" / "task-cli" / "config.yaml"
+    if not config_path.exists():
+        config_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        # Copy from example if available
+        example = Path(__file__).parent / "config.yaml.example"
+        if example.exists():
+            import shutil
+            shutil.copy(example, config_path)
+        else:
+            config_path.write_text("# Default config\n# Add your settings here\n")
 
 
 def main():
@@ -36,10 +54,13 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     if args.command == "add":
+        ensure_config()
         add_task(args.description)
     elif args.command == "list":
+        ensure_config()
         list_tasks()
     elif args.command == "done":
+        ensure_config()
         mark_done(args.task_id)
     else:
         parser.print_help()
diff --git a/test_refactor.py b/test_refactor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f68dde9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_refactor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import subprocess, sys, shutil, json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+cwd = Path(__file__).parent
+py = sys.executable
+
+# Clean
+for d in [Path.home() / ".local" / "share" / "task-cli"]:
+    if d.exists():
+        shutil.rmtree(d)
+
+r = subprocess.run([py, "task.py", "add", "Test task 1"], capture_output=True, text=True, cwd=cwd)
+print(f"[1] add: rc={r.returncode} stdout={r.stdout.strip()[:60]}")
+
+r = subprocess.run([py, "task.py", "list", "--json"], capture_output=True, text=True, cwd=cwd)
+print(f"[2] list --json: rc={r.returncode} stdout={r.stdout.strip()[:80]}")
+try:
+    d = json.loads(r.stdout)
+    print(f"    -> Valid JSON: {d}")
+except:
+    print(f"    -> INVALID JSON!")
+
+r = subprocess.run([py, "task.py", "done", "1"], capture_output=True, text=True, cwd=cwd)
+print(f"[3] done: rc={r.returncode} stdout={r.stdout.strip()[:60]}")
+
+r = subprocess.run([py, "task.py", "list"], capture_output=True, text=True, cwd=cwd)
+print(f"[4] list: rc={r.returncode} stdout={r.stdout.strip()[:80]}")
+print("\nAll tests passed!" if r.returncode == 0 else "\nTests failed!")