diff --git a/tests/test_cli_commands.py b/tests/test_cli_commands.py
index f6a041d..be96603 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_commands.py
@@ -66,6 +66,33 @@ def test_new_command_with_all_flags(self):
         self.assertEqual(args.list, "personal")
         self.assertEqual(args.reminder, "9:00")
 
+    def test_new_command_with_important(self):
+        """Test 'new' command with -I flag"""
+        args = self.parser.parse_args(["new", "-I", "buy milk"])
+        self.assertEqual(args.task_name, "buy milk")
+        self.assertTrue(args.important)
+
+    def test_new_command_with_important_long(self):
+        """Test 'new' command with --important flag"""
+        args = self.parser.parse_args(["new", "--important", "buy milk"])
+        self.assertEqual(args.task_name, "buy milk")
+        self.assertTrue(args.important)
+
+    def test_new_command_without_important(self):
+        """Test 'new' command defaults important to False"""
+        args = self.parser.parse_args(["new", "buy milk"])
+        self.assertFalse(args.important)
+
+    def test_new_command_with_all_flags_including_important(self):
+        """Test 'new' command with -l, -r, and -I flags"""
+        args = self.parser.parse_args(
+            ["new", "-l", "personal", "-r", "9:00", "-I", "buy milk"]
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(args.task_name, "buy milk")
+        self.assertEqual(args.list, "personal")
+        self.assertEqual(args.reminder, "9:00")
+        self.assertTrue(args.important)
+
     def test_newl_command(self):
         """Test 'newl' command for creating lists"""
         args = self.parser.parse_args(["newl", "shopping"])
diff --git a/todocli/cli.py b/todocli/cli.py
index bd2f661..0480225 100644
--- a/todocli/cli.py
+++ b/todocli/cli.py
@@ -70,7 +70,12 @@ def new(args):
     if reminder_date_time_str is not None:
         reminder_datetime = parse_datetime(reminder_date_time_str)
 
-    wrapper.create_task(name, list_name=task_list, reminder_datetime=reminder_datetime)
+    wrapper.create_task(
+        name,
+        list_name=task_list,
+        reminder_datetime=reminder_datetime,
+        important=args.important,
+    )
 
 
 def newl(args):
@@ -136,6 +141,7 @@ def setup_parser():
     subparser = subparsers.add_parser("new", help="Add a new task")
     subparser.add_argument("task_name", help=helptext_task_name)
     subparser.add_argument("-r", "--reminder")
+    subparser.add_argument("-I", "--important", action="store_true")
     subparser.add_argument(
         "-l",
         "--list",
diff --git a/todocli/graphapi/wrapper.py b/todocli/graphapi/wrapper.py
index bef9372..6c71035 100644
--- a/todocli/graphapi/wrapper.py
+++ b/todocli/graphapi/wrapper.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from typing import Union
 
 from todocli.models.todolist import TodoList
-from todocli.models.todotask import Task, TaskStatus
+from todocli.models.todotask import Task, TaskImportance, TaskStatus
 from todocli.graphapi.oauth import get_oauth_session
 
 from todocli.utils.datetime_util import datetime_to_api_timestamp
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ def create_task(
     list_name: str | None = None,
     list_id: str | None = None,
     reminder_datetime: datetime | None = None,
+    important: bool = False,
 ):
     assert (list_name is not None) or (
         list_id is not None
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ def create_task(
     request_body = {
         "title": task_name,
         "reminderDateTime": datetime_to_api_timestamp(reminder_datetime),
+        "importance": TaskImportance.HIGH if important else TaskImportance.NORMAL,
     }
     session = get_oauth_session()
     response = session.post(endpoint, json=request_body)