In xml to set up a filter on the target table of a many to many, you set the filter element inside the <many-to-many> element To support that in annotations, I could do 1. @Filter (pointing to the association table or the target table if a @OneToMany @JoinColumn) @FilterManyToMany (@FilterTargetEntity) (pointing to the association table or the target table if a @OneToMany @JoinTable | @ManyToMany) or 2. @Filter (pointing to the target table) @FilterJoinTable (pointing to the association table) I like 2. better, it is more consistent esp when you realize that @OneToMany can use a join table just by changing an annotation. 2. would require a break to the users playing with @Filter and associations involving join tables. WDYT? Any annotation better name are welcome too.