# Flatten PDF for government offices

_Updated July 2026 · Arthize · https://arthize.com/for/government/flatten-pdf_

Arthize lets public-sector teams flatten a PDF in a private workspace — free, with no watermark. Flattening a PDF merges form fields, annotations and layers into the page, so nobody can change filled-in values and the file renders everywhere.

## Why government offices flatten a PDF

A records officer redacts personal identifiers from a document before a public-records release, converts it to PDF/A for the archive, and merges the case file into a single record.

**Built for case files.** Whether it's case files, public records, forms, Arthize's flatten pdf keeps the work inside your private workspace. Public records contain personal data that must be redacted before release, and files must be handled on trusted infrastructure.

## What matters when you flatten a PDF

Flattening bakes form fields and annotations into the page so they can't be changed.

It fixes forms that display differently in different viewers.

A flattened PDF is the safe way to share a completed form.

## How to flatten a PDF

1. **Open the flatten tool** — Sign in and open the Flatten tool.
2. **Add your PDF** — Upload a form or annotated document.
3. **Flatten** — Arthize bakes fields and annotations into the page content.
4. **Download** — Get a flattened, tamper-resistant PDF.

## FAQ

### How do government offices flatten a PDF for free?

Flattening a PDF merges form fields, annotations and layers into the page, so nobody can change filled-in values and the file renders everywhere. On Arthize it's free with no watermark, and the file is deleted after the job — which is why public-sector teams can use it for case files without a confidentiality risk.

### Is it private to flatten a PDF sensitive case files?

Yes. Public records contain personal data that must be redacted before release, and files must be handled on trusted infrastructure. Files are processed inside your private Arthize workspace and deleted after the job.

### How do I flatten a PDF form?

Flattening a PDF merges form fields, annotations and layers into the page, so nobody can change filled-in values and the file renders everywhere. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.

### Why do my filled form fields disappear in some viewers?

Flattening a PDF merges form fields, annotations and layers into the page, so nobody can change filled-in values and the file renders everywhere. On Arthize it's free with no watermark and processed privately.