The EIN confirmation letter is IRS Notice CP 575, issued once when the IRS assigns an Employer Identification Number. Banks, lenders, payroll providers, and other organizations may ask for this EIN letter because it connects your legal business name to your federal tax ID.
Key Takeaways
- The CP 575 EIN confirmation letter is the original notice documenting an EIN assignment.
- The letter generally shows the legal name, EIN, and address in IRS records.
- Online applicants can save or print the notice when the EIN is issued. Other applicants receive it by mail.
- The IRS issues CP 575 only once and does not provide another original.
- If CP 575 is missing, IRS Letter 147C can verify the same EIN assignment.
- Keep permanent digital and paper copies with your formation and tax records.
What Is an IRS EIN Confirmation Letter?
An IRS EIN confirmation letter is the agency's written notice that it assigned an EIN to a business or other entity. Its official notice number is CP 575. You may also hear it called an EIN letter, EIN assignment letter, federal tax ID certificate, or EIN assistance letter. Those informal names usually refer to CP 575, but you should check the document's notice number when a requester specifies a particular form of proof.
An EIN is a nine-digit federal tax identification number written in a format such as 12-3456789. The IRS uses it to identify an entity's federal tax account. The confirmation letter records the assignment and connects the number with the legal name the applicant gave the IRS.
CP 575 does not form a company or authorize it to operate. Formation documents come from the state, while licenses and permits come from the agencies responsible for those activities. The EIN letter also does not establish tax-exempt status or show that an entity remains in good standing. It proves the narrower point that the IRS assigned the displayed EIN to the named entity.
That distinction matters when someone asks for proof of your EIN. Sending articles of organization may prove that an LLC was formed, but those articles may not provide IRS-issued confirmation of its federal tax ID. CP 575 supplies that connection.
What Does a CP 575 EIN Confirmation Letter Contain?
A CP 575 is an IRS notice rather than a certificate created by your state or formation service. It is generally printed or displayed on IRS letterhead and identifies the notice as CP 575. Its key information includes the entity's assigned EIN, legal name, and address in IRS records. The notice may also include IRS instructions relevant to using the number and meeting federal filing obligations.
When reviewing an EIN confirmation letter sample or your own notice, focus on the information a bank or provider needs to match:
- Legal name: The name should match the name used on the account, loan, payroll, or licensing application.
- Employer Identification Number: All nine digits should be visible and accurate.
- Business address: This reflects the information associated with the EIN when the notice was prepared.
- IRS source: The notice number and IRS formatting distinguish it from an internally prepared record.
A mismatch does not automatically mean the EIN is invalid. The business may have changed its name or address, or someone may have entered a trade name instead of the legal name. However, the reviewing institution may pause the application until the records align. Compare the letter with your formation documents and the exact information supplied to the requester before submitting it.
How Do You Obtain an EIN Confirmation Letter?
You obtain the original CP 575 by applying for an EIN. If you complete the IRS online EIN application and the IRS assigns a number, the confirmation notice is available at the end of that session. Save the EIN confirmation letter PDF and print a paper copy before closing the page. If someone else applied for you, ask that person or formation provider for the saved notice.
If you apply by mail or fax, the IRS sends the confirmation letter to the mailing address supplied on Form SS-4. Mailed confirmation has commonly taken several weeks to arrive, but IRS processing and delivery times can change. Check the IRS's current instructions when timing matters.
The IRS issues the CP 575 exactly once. It is not a document you can routinely regenerate later through an account dashboard. If you forgot to download the EIN confirmation letter after an online application, first check the computer's downloads folder, shared company storage, and the records of the person who submitted the application.
Do not apply for another EIN merely because you cannot find the notice. A missing document does not cancel the number already assigned to the entity. The proper next step is to locate existing records or obtain IRS verification of the existing EIN.
Why Banks and Lenders Request an EIN Letter
A requester usually wants the letter to confirm that the EIN on your application belongs with the legal name shown in IRS records. This check can identify typing errors, inconsistent names, and records created under an outdated address. It also gives the institution an IRS-issued source rather than relying only on a number entered into an online form.
You may be asked for CP 575 when opening a business bank or merchant account, applying for financing, setting up payroll, registering for certain tax accounts, or completing vendor onboarding. Licensing authorities and other government agencies may also request EIN documentation. Requirements vary, so ask the recipient which documents it accepts before spending time obtaining a replacement.
The request does not necessarily mean that every page of CP 575 is needed for every business task. Sometimes the EIN itself is enough. In other cases, the organization wants a readable document displaying both the full EIN and the matching legal name. A trade name, abbreviation, or brand name may not satisfy a system expecting the entity's IRS name.
Submit the document through the recipient's secure upload process when possible. An EIN is not a Social Security number, but you should still avoid posting the letter publicly or sending it to an unverified contact. Confirm the requester's identity and reason for needing the document.
Finding Your EIN Letter and Other Proof
Start with the records created when the EIN application was completed. Search permanent business files, downloads, scanned documents, cloud storage, and the files maintained by a co-founder, accountant, attorney, or formation provider. Look for filenames containing CP 575, EIN, federal tax ID, or the entity's legal name.
If you cannot find the letter, your EIN itself may appear on previously filed federal tax returns, payroll records, prior W-2 or 1099 documents, bank onboarding files, or other IRS correspondence. Your accountant or payroll provider may also have the number in its records. These sources can help you recover the number, but they are not automatically substitutes for CP 575.
Ask the organization requesting proof what it will accept. Policies differ, and acceptable documents may include:
| Document | What It Shows | Practical Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| CP 575 | The original IRS EIN assignment | Issued only once |
| IRS Letter 147C | IRS verification of an existing EIN | Must be requested from the IRS |
| Prior tax return | The EIN used on a filed return | Acceptance depends on the requester |
| Bank or payroll record | The number previously supplied | May not qualify as IRS-issued proof |
A copy held by your bank or accountant may solve an urgent document search if it is a readable copy of the original. It does not become a newly issued IRS letter simply because another organization stored it.
CP 575 vs. the 147C EIN Verification Letter
CP 575 and Letter 147C are related but different documents. CP 575 is the original EIN assignment notice issued once. Letter 147C is an EIN verification letter that the IRS can provide later to confirm an existing EIN. It serves the same basic proof function when the original is lost, inaccessible, or never received.
The IRS does not reissue CP 575 and does not provide an online EIN confirmation letter lookup. An authorized person can request Letter 147C by calling the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. The caller should be ready to verify identifying details about the entity and their authority to receive its tax information. The IRS may provide the letter by fax during or after the call, or send it by mail, depending on current procedures.
This is intentionally a limited summary because obtaining a replacement is a separate process from understanding the CP 575 itself. UpCounsel has a deeper guide covering how to request a copy of an EIN letter from the IRS and prepare for the identity-verification questions.
If tangled EIN records, name differences, or entity changes are blocking a bank account or financing, a business attorney can compare your IRS, formation, and transaction documents, identify which record needs correction, and communicate with the institution reviewing them. You can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace to receive proposals from qualified attorneys, with responses typically arriving within a day.
Store and Protect Your EIN Assignment Letter
Treat CP 575 as a permanent business record. Save the original paper notice with your formation documents, operating agreement or bylaws, tax elections, licenses, and major IRS correspondence. Keep it in a secure place accessible to the people responsible for tax, payroll, banking, and compliance work.
Create a clear digital copy as soon as you receive the letter. Use a recognizable filename containing the entity's legal name, the document type, and the year received. Store the file in a password-protected business records system and maintain a secure backup. Do not rely on a temporary download folder, an individual's email inbox, or access controlled only by a former employee.
Limit sharing to trusted recipients with a legitimate reason to review the letter. When a bank or provider requests it, use a secure portal rather than an open link. Record where you submitted it so you can respond if the recipient later reports a mismatch.
Never alter the legal name, EIN, address, notice number, or other content on an IRS letter. Do not recreate an official-looking letter from a sample or convert an internal record into something presented as IRS-issued. Altering or fabricating tax documents can create serious fraud and credibility problems. If information is outdated, update the underlying IRS record through the appropriate process rather than editing the notice.
Review the stored letter when your business changes its name, address, or tax structure. A change does not mean you should modify CP 575 or automatically apply for a new EIN. Determine which IRS updates are required and preserve the original notice as part of the entity's historical records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an EIN confirmation letter the same as a tax-exempt determination letter?
No, an EIN confirmation letter is not proof of tax-exempt status. CP 575 documents the assignment of a federal tax identification number, which both taxable and tax-exempt entities can have. A tax-exempt organization receives separate IRS documentation concerning recognition of its exempt status, so provide the document that the requester specifically names.
Does an EIN confirmation letter expire?
No, CP 575 does not have a stated expiration date. It remains part of the entity's permanent tax records, although a bank or agency may request more recent documentation when names, addresses, or other records differ. The EIN itself generally stays associated with the entity unless IRS rules require a different number after a significant change.
Is an EIN letter proof that my company is in good standing?
No, an EIN letter does not establish state good standing. It confirms the relationship between an EIN and the named entity in IRS records. If someone needs proof that your company remains active and compliant with state requirements, it may request a certificate of good standing or another document from the relevant state office.
Can a sole proprietor receive an EIN confirmation letter?
Yes, a sole proprietor who obtains an EIN can receive an EIN confirmation letter. Some sole proprietors use a Social Security number for activities that do not require an EIN, while others need or choose an EIN based on their circumstances. The IRS provides current guidance for determining when a business needs one.
Should I send my full CP 575 whenever someone asks for my EIN?
No, you should first confirm what the requester actually requires. Some transactions need only the number, while others require an IRS document displaying the legal name and full EIN. Use the requester's secure submission method, verify the recipient, and avoid distributing copies more broadly than necessary for the stated business purpose.
