An EIN assignment letter is the IRS notice that confirms your business’s Employer Identification Number, the nine-digit tax ID the IRS uses to identify your business. It comes in two forms. The CP 575 is the original notice mailed after the IRS approves your EIN application. The 147C is the replacement verification you request if you’ve lost the CP 575. Both show your EIN, your business’s legal name, and the address on file, and banks, lenders, state agencies, and vendors accept either as proof of your tax identity.1Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
One thing to know up front: the IRS issues the CP 575 exactly once and will not generate a duplicate.2Internal Revenue Service. IRS CP 575 G Employer Identification Number Assignment Notice If you applied online, you saw your EIN on screen immediately, but the paper CP 575 arrives by mail afterward. Lose it, and the 147C is your only path back to a printed confirmation.
When You’ll Be Asked for the Letter
Opening a business bank account is the most common trigger. Banks confirm that your business name and EIN match IRS records before setting up the account, and the CP 575 or 147C is the simplest way to prove that match. Business loans and lines of credit require the same verification.
State and local agencies often request the letter when you register your business, apply for permits, or set up state tax accounts. Vendors and business partners may ask for it before issuing a 1099 or signing a contract, since they need your correct EIN for their own tax filings.
Most institutions accept a 147C without issue. A handful of banks prefer the original CP 575; if one insists and yours is gone, requesting a 147C and explaining the situation to a branch manager usually resolves it.
How to Request a 147C Replacement
Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933, open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time).3Internal Revenue Service. Telephone Assistance Contacts for Business Customers Tell the representative you need a 147C letter.1Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
Before you dial, gather:
- Your EIN, if you know it
- The business’s exact legal name as filed with the IRS
- The business address the IRS has on record
- The name and Social Security number of the responsible party listed on the original application
- A prior-year business tax return, which the agent may reference to verify your identity4Internal Revenue Service. Be Ready to Verify Your Identity When Calling the IRS
Once you’re verified, the agent will ask whether you want the 147C mailed or faxed. Fax is much faster. The Taxpayer Advocate Service indicates faxed documents arrive within about four business days, while mail delivery takes roughly four to six weeks.5Taxpayer Advocate Service. Getting an EIN If a bank appointment or filing deadline is coming, ask for the fax.
Who’s Allowed to Call
The IRS will only share EIN information with someone authorized to act for the business, typically the responsible party named on the original application, a corporate officer, a partner, or a sole proprietor. If you want an accountant, attorney, or other third party to make the call on your behalf, file Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative) with the IRS first. Form 2848 authorizes someone to represent you before the IRS; Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) is a lighter option that lets a third party inspect your tax information without full representational authority.6Internal Revenue Service. Forms 2848 and 8821 for Tax-Advantaged Bonds Either form has to be processed before the third party calls.
Update Your Address and Name First
Your 147C will be sent to the address the IRS has on file, and the agent will verify you against the name and address on file. If either is out of date, the call stalls and the letter goes to the wrong place.
For a business move or a change of responsible party, file Form 8822-B (Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business).7Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party – Business
For a business name change, the method depends on your entity type: corporations and partnerships check a name-change box on their annual return, and sole proprietors write to the IRS at the address where they file.8Internal Revenue Service. Business Name Change If you’ve already filed for the year, send a signed letter explaining the change. Some name changes actually require a new EIN rather than an update; IRS Publication 1635 covers how to tell.
The IRS Doesn’t Charge — Watch for Impostor Sites
Applying for an EIN and requesting a 147C are both free.1Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number Third-party websites nonetheless charge up to $300 for a service you can complete yourself on irs.gov in minutes.
In April 2025, the FTC sent warning letters to operators of these sites. The agency noted that many use IRS-like logos, colors, and formatting to imply a government affiliation they don’t have, and some even put “IRS” in their domain names. Under the FTC’s Impersonation Rule, companies that misrepresent affiliation with a government agency face civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation and may be required to refund consumers.9Federal Trade Commission. FTC Warns Operators of Websites that Charge for an Employer Identification Number and Claim Affiliation with the IRS
The safe rule: go directly to irs.gov and search for “EIN.” If a site is asking for a credit card before issuing your number, it isn’t the IRS.
Protect the Original CP 575
Because the IRS won’t reissue it, treat the CP 575 the way you’d treat a birth certificate. Keep the original in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box, and store a scanned copy in secure cloud storage. When a bank or agency needs to see the letter, hand over a photocopy or the scan rather than the original. If it does go missing, the 147C will get you back on track — you just save yourself a phone call and a wait by keeping the first one safe.