diff --git a/PROGRESS.md b/PROGRESS.md
index c772762..b853887 100644
--- a/PROGRESS.md
+++ b/PROGRESS.md
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@
 8. **Task Reopening:** Added a "Reopen task" button to restore accidentally closed tasks back to the queue.
 9. **User Management (Settings):** Built backend API endpoints (`POST`, `PATCH`, `DELETE` for `/users`) and wired up the `WorkspaceTab` allowing Admins to manage the team from the UI.
 10. **Task Editing:** Implemented inline editing for task descriptions using an active text box state with "Save/Cancel" actions.
+11. **UI Cleanup:** Removed hardcoded, prototype placeholder notes from the `TaskDetail` modal to prepare for future dynamic notes integration.
+12. **Permanent Deletion:** Added a "Delete task permanently" button to the `TaskDetail` sidebar with a confirmation dialog, backed by a new `DELETE /tasks/{id}` API endpoint.
 
 ### Phase 3: Advanced Features
 - **Real-time Notifications:** Explore WebSockets for task assignments.
diff --git a/api.js b/api.js
index b3a9744..355e77c 100644
--- a/api.js
+++ b/api.js
@@ -118,6 +118,14 @@ class ApiService {
     return data;
   }
 
+  async deleteTask(id) {
+    const data = await this.request(`/tasks/${id}`, {
+      method: 'DELETE',
+    });
+    this.notify();
+    return data;
+  }
+
   async addAudit(auditData) {
     const data = await this.request('/audit', {
       method: 'POST',
diff --git a/app.jsx b/app.jsx
index 987bf82..26bff3a 100644
--- a/app.jsx
+++ b/app.jsx
@@ -166,6 +166,18 @@ function App() {
     }
   };
 
+  const deleteTask = async (taskId) => {
+    try {
+      const t = tasks.find(x => x.id === taskId);
+      await api.deleteTask(taskId);
+      await api.addAudit({ actor: meId, action: 'task_deleted', summary: 'Deleted task' + (t ? ': ' + t.title : ''), target: taskId });
+      setOpenTaskId(null);
+    } catch(e) {
+      console.error(e);
+      alert("Failed to delete task: " + e.message);
+    }
+  };
+
   const dismissHU = (id) => setHeadsUp(h => h.filter(x => x.id !== id));
   const openTaskFromAnywhere = (id) => { setOpenTaskId(id); setShowLogs(false); };
 
@@ -223,7 +235,7 @@ function App() {
 
       <AddTaskModal open={!!adding} onClose={() => setAdding(null)} onSubmit={addTask} defaultAssignee={adding} me={me} />
       {mappedOpenTask && (
-        <TaskDetail task={mappedOpenTask} allAudit={frontendAudit} onClose={() => setOpenTaskId(null)} onMove={moveTask} onPriority={setPriority} onComplete={() => completeTask(mappedOpenTask.id)} onReopen={() => reopenTask(mappedOpenTask.id)} onEditDesc={(newDesc) => editTaskDesc(mappedOpenTask.id, newDesc)} />
+        <TaskDetail task={mappedOpenTask} allAudit={frontendAudit} onClose={() => setOpenTaskId(null)} onMove={moveTask} onPriority={setPriority} onComplete={() => completeTask(mappedOpenTask.id)} onReopen={() => reopenTask(mappedOpenTask.id)} onEditDesc={(newDesc) => editTaskDesc(mappedOpenTask.id, newDesc)} onDeleteTask={() => deleteTask(mappedOpenTask.id)} />
       )}
       {showLogs && (
         <Modal title="Audit log" onClose={() => setShowLogs(false)} wide>
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index c4bd706..f176752 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -118,15 +118,24 @@ def update_task(task_id: str, task_update: schemas.TaskUpdate, db: Session = Dep
     db_task = db.query(models.Task).filter(models.Task.id == task_id).first()
     if not db_task:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Task not found")
-    
+
     update_data = task_update.dict(exclude_unset=True)
     for key, value in update_data.items():
         setattr(db_task, key, value)
-    
+
     db.commit()
     db.refresh(db_task)
     return db_task
 
+@app.delete("/tasks/{task_id}")
+def delete_task(task_id: str, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    db_task = db.query(models.Task).filter(models.Task.id == task_id).first()
+    if not db_task:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Task not found")
+
+    db.delete(db_task)
+    db.commit()
+    return {"message": "Task deleted"}
 @app.get("/audit", response_model=List[schemas.AuditLog])
 def read_audit(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
     return db.query(models.AuditLog).order_by(models.AuditLog.at.desc()).all()
diff --git a/dashy.db b/dashy.db
index 5efd1e3..3ddbe1a 100644
Binary files a/dashy.db and b/dashy.db differ
diff --git a/screens.jsx b/screens.jsx
index 50c1409..c90b559 100644
--- a/screens.jsx
+++ b/screens.jsx
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ function Modal({ children, onClose, title, eyebrow, wide = false }) {
   );
 }
 
-function TaskDetail({ task, allAudit = [], onClose, onMove, onPriority, onComplete, onReopen, onEditDesc }) {
+function TaskDetail({ task, allAudit = [], onClose, onMove, onPriority, onComplete, onReopen, onEditDesc, onDeleteTask }) {
   const [editingDesc, setEditingDesc] = React.useState(false);
   const [descValue, setDescValue] = React.useState(task ? task.description || '' : '');
 
@@ -557,6 +557,16 @@ function TaskDetail({ task, allAudit = [], onClose, onMove, onPriority, onComple
           <Field label="Reminder">
             <div className="meta-row">Thu, May 7 · 4:00 pm</div>
           </Field>
+
+          <div style={{ marginTop: '2rem', paddingTop: '1.5rem', borderTop: '1px solid var(--border-subtle)' }}>
+            <button 
+              className="btn btn--ghost btn--full" 
+              style={{ color: 'var(--prio-high-dot)', borderColor: 'transparent' }}
+              onClick={() => { if (confirm('Are you sure you want to permanently delete this task?')) onDeleteTask(); }}
+            >
+              <Icon.Close /> Delete task permanently
+            </button>
+          </div>
         </aside>
       </div>
     </Modal>