IRS Form 9787 is a document from the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) that displays the tax payment enrollment information the IRS has on file for you. Every detail EFTPS currently holds about your electronic payment setup appears on the form itself, so it functions as a snapshot of your account rather than something you fill out from scratch.
What Form 9787 Shows
The form reflects your EFTPS profile: identifying information, the types of taxes you pay electronically, and the related account data the system uses to process your payments. EFTPS itself is a free service from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that lets individuals and businesses pay federal taxes electronically, including estimated tax, employment tax, and excise tax obligations. The system is available around the clock online or by phone.
When Form 9787 arrives, treat it as a record to verify. Check that your name, taxpayer identification number, bank routing and account numbers, address, and the tax types tied to your account are all correct. Because the form is a mirror of what EFTPS knows about you, anything wrong on the page is wrong in the system.
What to Do If the Information Is Wrong
If any detail on Form 9787 is out of date — a new bank account, a new address, a change in the taxes you file — update it before your next scheduled payment. Corrections go through the EFTPS website or the EFTPS helpline for individuals at 1-800-555-4477. Failed payments caused by stale account information can trigger late-payment penalties even when you meant to pay on time, so fixing the record is the point of reviewing the form.
How Form 9787 Fits With EFTPS Enrollment
If you haven’t enrolled yet, the individual enrollment form is Form 9783, not 9787. Enrollment collects your name, Social Security number, and bank routing and account numbers, and you can submit it online at eftps.gov or on paper. After the IRS processes the enrollment, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) is mailed to you, generally within five to seven business days for online enrollments. You use that PIN along with your taxpayer identification number and an internet password to log in and schedule payments. The details captured at enrollment are the same details that later appear on Form 9787.
Form 9787 Is Not About the Health Coverage Tax Credit
Some online sources describe Form 9787 as a notice tied to the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). That is incorrect. Form 9787 belongs to the EFTPS family of forms. The HCTC itself expired on December 31, 2021, and is no longer available for any tax year beginning after that date.1Internal Revenue Service. Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Has Expired on December 31, 2021 If you receive Form 9787, it concerns your electronic payment enrollment, not a health insurance credit.
How Long to Keep It
Keep Form 9787 and your EFTPS payment confirmations for at least three years after filing the return the payments apply to. The IRS generally has three years from your filing date to assess additional tax, and you have the same window to claim a refund, so your payment records need to stay accessible through that period.2Internal Revenue Service. How Long Should I Keep Records If you ever need to prove a payment was made on time to dispute a late-payment penalty, the EFTPS confirmation number and your copy of Form 9787 showing the correct enrollment details are your primary evidence.