Some PDF forms can be saved, including all filled-in field data:
Some others can not be saved, and all filled-in field data are lost:
How do I enable saving of filled-in fields on my PDF form?
The answer is
In Acrobat, click on the "Advanced" tab, then click on "Enable Features in Adobe Reader." This should do the trick.
You can use the free foxit reader to fill in the forms, and if you pay a little you can design the forms that way you want.
You can also us iText to programmaticly create those forms.
There are free online services that allow you to upload a pdf and you can add fields also.
It depends on how you want to do the designing.
EDIT: If you use foxit reader, you can save any form that is fillable.
If you are using Adobe Acrobat X to make the form, set all the fields as you want them, then click File, Save As, Reader Extended PDF, Enable Additional Features. The resulting PDF form can be saved when filled in, if opened in versions of Adobe Reader before XI.
On linux use cabaret stage:
https://www.cabaret-solutions.com/download/caba-lin-64
You can fill and save cleanly
There is a setting inside the PDF file that turns on the allow saving with data bit. However, it requires that you have a copy of Adobe Acrobat installed to change the bit.
The only other option is to print it to a PDF print driver which would save the data merged with the pdf file.
UPDATE: The relevant information from adobe is at: http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?13@@.3bbb313f/7
With the latest version of Adobe Reader, Adobe Reader XI, it seems that you can save the form.
From their webpage: Type your responses right on the PDF form, or click through and fill in the form fields. Then save and submit
Preview in OS X seems to be able to do this out of the box. Adobe Reader shows the doc as "data typed can't be saved" but Preview was able to save my changes without hassle.
In Acrobat XI, (Close Form Editing if open) File > Save As Other > Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features
Open your PDF in Google Chrome. Edit the PDF as you want. Hit ctrl + p. Save as PDF to your desktop.
Source: Stackoverflow.com