Can you permanently delete responses?

Form responses can be permanently deleted, but not automatically on a fixed schedule like “within six months” based on the provided context.

From the context:

• Deleting a form from the Deleted forms tab permanently deletes the form and all of its responses. This is a manual action; once done, the data cannot be recovered.
• Deleting a question in a form permanently deletes that question and any response data collected for it. If the form was created in Excel for the web or OneDrive for work or school and is synced with an Excel workbook, the previously collected response data for that question remains in the workbook even though the question itself is deleted.
• There is no mention of an automatic retention period (such as six months) after which responses are deleted. The only described permanent deletion is when the user deletes the form from the Deleted forms tab or deletes questions.

Therefore, it would not be accurate, based on this context, to state that responses are automatically deleted within six months. Permanent deletion occurs when the form is permanently deleted from the recycle bin (Deleted forms tab) or when questions are removed, subject to the Excel sync behavior noted.

References:

• Delete a form or recover a deleted form
• How do I delete a question in a form?