If a bank, lender, payroll provider, or vendor asks for an EIN verification letter, the fastest working path is usually to call the IRS and request IRS Letter 147C. The original EIN confirmation notice, CP 575, is issued only once, so the IRS generally does not reissue it if it is lost.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS EIN confirmation letter is CP 575, and it is the original notice issued after an EIN application is approved.
- If you lost CP 575, request IRS Letter 147C, also called an EIN verification letter, as replacement proof of your EIN.
- You cannot download a copy of your EIN confirmation letter online from an IRS portal, and the IRS does not provide 147C letters by email.
- The fastest option is to call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
- Only an authorized person, such as an owner, officer, partner, trustee, or properly authorized representative, can request the letter.
- While you wait, your EIN may appear on tax returns, bank documents, payroll records, state registrations, and IRS correspondence.
EIN Verification Letter vs. EIN Confirmation Letter
An EIN is a federal tax identification number the IRS assigns to a business or other entity. It functions as the business's federal tax ID for IRS records and many banking, payroll, licensing, and tax tasks. When the IRS first approves an EIN application, it issues an EIN confirmation notice known as CP 575.
CP 575 is the document many banks and platforms call an EIN confirmation letter. It shows that the IRS assigned an Employer Identification Number to the entity listed on the application. If you applied online, you may have been able to save or print the confirmation at the end of the application process. The IRS also sends the confirmation notice based on the application information.
The key point is that CP 575 is issued only once. If the original notice is lost, damaged, or never made it into your permanent records, the replacement document is not another CP 575. Instead, you request IRS Letter 147C. A 147C letter verifies the EIN the IRS already has on file for the business.
| Document | What It Does | When You Use It |
|---|---|---|
| CP 575 | Original EIN confirmation notice issued after EIN approval | First proof of the EIN for banking, payroll, vendors, and records |
| Letter 147C | IRS EIN verification letter confirming an existing EIN | Replacement proof when CP 575 is lost or unavailable |
For most practical purposes, the 147C letter serves the same proof function as the original confirmation notice. If a requester specifically asks for CP 575, explain that the IRS issues CP 575 only once and ask whether IRS Letter 147C will satisfy the requirement.
Fastest Way to Request Letter 147C
The fastest way to request an EIN verification letter is to call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. The line is available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Before you call, set aside time for hold periods and have your business information ready.
When you reach an IRS representative, say that you need an EIN verification letter, also called Letter 147C. The representative will ask questions to confirm that you are authorized to receive information for the business. If the IRS can verify you, it may offer delivery by mail or fax. Fax delivery can be the quickest option where available, and some callers receive the letter the same day by fax.
Use this simple call checklist:
- Call 800-829-4933 during the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line hours.
- Tell the representative you need IRS Letter 147C for your business EIN.
- Provide the legal business name, address, and other verification details the IRS requests.
- Confirm that you are an authorized person for the entity.
- Ask whether fax delivery is available if you need the document urgently.
- If you choose mail, confirm the address the IRS has on file.
If your business address or responsible party information does not match IRS records, the request may take longer. The IRS may require you to update records before it sends documentation. Do not guess during the call. Use the exact legal name and address that likely appeared on the EIN application or later IRS filings.
Can I Get a Copy of My EIN Confirmation Letter Online?
You cannot download a copy of your EIN confirmation letter online from an IRS portal after the fact. This is the common pain point behind searches like how can I get a copy of my EIN confirmation letter online. The honest answer is that the IRS does not provide an online CP 575 replacement download, and it does not offer an online 147C request portal.
If you applied for an EIN online, you may have had an opportunity to download, save, or print the confirmation when the EIN was assigned. If you did that, the PDF or saved file may still be in your business records, downloads folder, cloud storage, or email attachments. But if you did not save it then, you generally cannot return to the IRS EIN application system later and download another copy.
Be cautious with any service claiming it can retrieve an official EIN verification letter PDF from an IRS online account. A third party may help you apply for a new EIN when appropriate or help organize your records, but official IRS proof for an existing EIN comes from IRS records. For a lost confirmation notice, the standard replacement is Letter 147C requested from the IRS.
If you are still applying for an EIN, use the IRS's official EIN application information and save the confirmation immediately when it becomes available. You can start with the IRS page for applying for an EIN online at IRS.gov. If you already have an EIN and lost the notice, use the IRS's guidance on a lost or misplaced EIN at IRS.gov.
Who Can Request a 147C Letter
The IRS will not provide an EIN verification letter to just anyone who knows the business name. The caller must be authorized to receive the entity's tax information. For many small businesses, that means an owner, corporate officer, partner, trustee, or other person the IRS recognizes as authorized. A representative with proper authorization on file may also be able to act for the business.
Before calling, gather the records most likely to match IRS files. Start with the legal name of the entity, not just a trade name or DBA. Have the current and prior business address available, especially if the company moved after the EIN was issued. Know the entity type, such as LLC, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, estate, trust, or nonprofit. If you have prior tax returns or IRS notices, keep them in front of you during the call.
The IRS representative may ask for identifying information connected to the entity and the responsible party. The exact questions can vary. The goal is to confirm that the person requesting the letter has a legitimate right to receive EIN information. If you cannot pass verification, the IRS may not send the 147C letter during that call.
If the business has changed names, changed addresses, merged accounts, changed ownership, or used inconsistent information with banks and payroll providers, collect the proof trail before you call. That may include articles of organization, corporate records, tax returns, bank documents, payroll setup records, and prior IRS correspondence. The more organized your records are, the easier it is to explain the issue accurately.
If your EIN records are tangled because of a wrong legal name, identity misuse, mismatched bank records, or conflicting payroll accounts, a business attorney can help you sort the paper trail before you contact the IRS or a bank. You can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace and connect with attorneys who can review formation documents, draft correction letters, and help coordinate next steps. Responses typically arrive within a day.
Lost EIN Number? What to Use Meanwhile
If the real issue is a lost EIN number, not just a lost letter, you may be able to find the number faster than you can obtain IRS documentation. Many requesters only need the number for a form or system entry. Others need official proof with the business name and EIN shown together. Ask the requester which one they need before you spend time chasing the wrong document.
Start with prior federal tax returns. Your EIN may appear on business income tax returns, employment tax returns, and information returns. It may also appear on W-2s, 1099s, payroll tax records, and documents you issued to contractors or employees. If you use a payroll provider, the provider may have the EIN in your account profile or onboarding file.
Next, check bank and financing records. If you opened a business bank account, applied for a loan, or submitted merchant account paperwork, your EIN may appear in those files. Some banks may have a copy of the original CP 575 or a prior 147C letter if you supplied one during onboarding. A copy from a bank is not the same as a newly issued IRS verification letter, but it may help you identify the EIN or satisfy a requester that accepts existing records.
Also review state and local registrations. Business licenses, sales tax registrations, employer withholding accounts, unemployment accounts, and secretary of state filings may include the EIN or federal tax ID. Accountants and outside agencies that helped form the business or apply for the EIN may also have copies.
If none of these sources work, call the IRS. The IRS can help an authorized person recover the EIN after verifying identity, and you can request Letter 147C during the same general process.
When Banks Ask for Official EIN Proof
Banks, lenders, payroll providers, vendors, and government agencies ask for EIN proof because they need to match the number to the correct legal entity. A typo in an EIN, a mismatch between a DBA and the legal name, or an outdated business address can delay account opening, payroll setup, financing, or tax registration.
The document they want usually shows the legal business name and EIN together. CP 575 does that as the original confirmation notice. Letter 147C does that as IRS verification of the existing EIN. Some requesters may also accept a prior tax return or other official record, but many prefer a CP 575 or 147C because it comes directly from IRS EIN records.
Payroll setup is a common trigger. A payroll provider may need the EIN to register withholding accounts, file employment tax forms, and confirm the employer identity. If you operate in more than one state, keep in mind that state and local registration requirements can vary. Check the current instructions for each state or locality where you hire employees, withhold taxes, or register for unemployment or payroll accounts.
Lenders and banks often ask for the letter during due diligence. They may compare the legal entity name, EIN, formation documents, ownership information, and account application. If one record says the LLC name with punctuation and another record uses a trade name, the bank may ask for additional proof. The EIN letter helps anchor the federal tax identity of the entity.
When a requester rejects a document, ask exactly what is missing. The issue may not be the EIN letter itself. It may be that the business name, address, signer, or entity type does not match the rest of the application package.
Store and Protect Your EIN Letter
Once you receive CP 575 or Letter 147C, treat it as a permanent business record. You may need it years later for banking, payroll, licensing, financing, vendor onboarding, tax elections, or business changes. Do not rely on a single paper copy in a filing cabinet or a single PDF in one person's inbox.
Create a secure digital file for core tax identity records. Save the EIN letter, formation documents, operating agreement or bylaws, tax election letters, IRS correspondence, state registrations, and business license records in one controlled location. Use a file name that makes the document easy to find, such as EIN Letter 147C or IRS CP 575, plus the entity name and date.
Keep access limited to people who need it, such as the owner, finance lead, accountant, or office manager. An EIN is not as sensitive as a Social Security number, but it still appears in tax and financial systems. Treat the document with care, especially if it also shows addresses or responsible party information.
Maintain a paper copy in a permanent corporate records binder or locked business file. If you replace CP 575 with a 147C letter, keep both if you have both. Do not destroy the original CP 575 if you later obtain a 147C. The documents support the same proof trail and may help if a future bank, payroll provider, or government office asks how your EIN was assigned or verified.
Review the file when your business changes name, address, tax status, ownership, or payroll footprint. Several related processes, including business name changes and tax elections, rely on a clean proof trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an EIN verification letter?
You get an EIN verification letter by requesting IRS Letter 147C from the IRS. Call the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 during its weekday hours, verify that you are authorized for the business, and ask for Letter 147C. If available, fax delivery may be faster than mail.
Can I download my EIN confirmation letter online?
No, you cannot download a replacement EIN confirmation letter online from an IRS portal. If you saved the confirmation when you first applied online, you may still have that file. If not, the IRS generally will not reissue CP 575, so request Letter 147C instead.
How can I look up an EIN verification letter?
You cannot look up an EIN verification letter in a public IRS database. Search your own records for CP 575, Letter 147C, prior tax returns, bank files, payroll records, or state registrations. If you need official IRS verification, an authorized person must request a new 147C letter from the IRS.
What does an EIN verification letter look like?
An EIN verification letter is an IRS letter that identifies the business and confirms the Employer Identification Number on IRS records. It is not a certificate from a state agency. Requesters usually look for the legal business name and EIN to match the application, account, or tax registration they are processing.
Is IRS Letter 147C the same as CP 575?
IRS Letter 147C is not the same document as CP 575, but it serves a similar proof function. CP 575 is the original EIN confirmation notice issued after approval. Letter 147C is the replacement verification letter used when the original notice is lost or unavailable.
Can a bank give me a copy of my EIN letter?
A bank may be able to give you a copy of an EIN letter you previously submitted. That copy can help you recover the number or answer some documentation requests. However, if a requester requires current IRS verification, you should request Letter 147C directly from the IRS.
