An EIN letter is the official IRS notice, labeled CP 575, that confirms the Employer Identification Number assigned to your business. The IRS generates it once, immediately after approving your application, and mails it to the address on the application. It will not issue a duplicate of the original. If yours is lost, you can request a replacement verification letter, called a 147C, by calling the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933.
What the CP 575 Is
Federal law requires anyone who files tax returns or furnishes tax statements to include an identifying number assigned by the IRS.1GovInfo. 26 USC 6109 – Identifying Numbers For a business, that number is the EIN, and the CP 575 is the document proving the IRS assigned it to your entity.
The notice lists the nine-digit number formatted as XX-XXXXXXX, the legal business name exactly as entered on your application, the mailing address on file at the time of issuance, and the tax forms your business is expected to file based on its entity type. The IRS produces slightly different versions depending on classification: corporations that file Form 1120 receive a CP 575A or 575C, partnerships and similar entities receive a 575B or 575D, and sole proprietors or single-member LLCs with no filing requirement receive a 575G or 575H.2Internal Revenue Service. Assigning Employer Identification Numbers (EINs)
Losing the notice does not cancel the EIN itself. The number stays permanently attached to your business. What you lose is the easiest way to prove it. Check that the name and address on the CP 575 match your state formation documents when it arrives; a mismatch will cause friction later at banks and on returns.
When You’ll Be Asked for It
Opening a Business Bank Account
Most banks want to see the EIN letter before opening a business checking or savings account. Federal anti-money-laundering rules require financial institutions to verify the identity of every customer opening an account, and for business entities the EIN letter is one of the primary documents accepted.3FDIC. Collecting Identifying Information Required Under the Customer Identification Program Rule Reading the nine-digit number aloud usually will not do. Commercial lenders, credit card issuers, and merchant processors apply similar checks before extending credit or setting up payment processing.
Payroll and Employment Taxes
If you hire employees, your EIN goes on quarterly payroll returns (Form 941), annual wage statements (Form W-2), and other employment tax filings.4Internal Revenue Service. Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employers Tax Guide Payroll providers typically ask for a copy of the EIN letter when they onboard your account.
Importing Goods
Businesses that import products into the United States must file a customs identification form with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The regulations require the EIN on that form; if no EIN has been assigned, that has to be noted on the filing.5eCFR. 19 CFR 24.5 – Filing Identification Number
Retirement Plans
Setting up a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or profit-sharing plan, may require a separate EIN for the plan trust. The instructions for Form SS-4 include a specific checkbox for applicants creating a pension plan.6Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4
Licenses and Contracts
Government agencies and private vendors may request the EIN letter before issuing professional licenses, building permits, or approving bids on public contracts. The document confirms they are dealing with a tax-registered entity.
How to Replace a Lost EIN Letter
Because the IRS will not reissue the original CP 575, the replacement is a separate verification letter, letter 147C. It confirms the same information — EIN, legal name, and address — and banks, lenders, and agencies generally accept it in place of the original.
Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. The line is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, with Alaska and Hawaii on Pacific time.7Internal Revenue Service. Telephone Assistance Contacts for Business Customers Only an authorized person can make the request, meaning the responsible party listed on the original application or someone holding a valid power of attorney.
The representative will verify your identity by asking for the legal name of the business, the address on file, and the Social Security number of the responsible party. Once you’re verified, you can have the letter mailed, which takes roughly seven to ten business days, or faxed during the call for same-day access if you provide a fax number.
Callers outside the United States should use 267-941-1000 instead. That line serves international taxpayers and is not toll-free.8Internal Revenue Service. Help With Tax Questions – International Taxpayers
Finding the Number Without a Letter
If you only need the EIN itself and not an official letter, the IRS points to several faster options:9Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
- Look at any previously filed business tax return. The EIN appears at the top.
- Ask the bank where the business account is held.
- Contact a state or local licensing agency you applied to.
- Search your own records for a saved copy of the CP 575, physical or digital.
These will get you the number. If a third party specifically wants an IRS-issued letter, the 147C phone request is the only route.
Keeping the Record Behind Your EIN Current
The EIN stays with the business permanently, but the details attached to it can change. If the business moves or the responsible party changes, file Form 8822-B with the IRS. A change in responsible party has to be reported within 60 days.10Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party – Business
Skip this step and two things tend to break later. IRS correspondence, including balance-due notices, goes to an address no one checks. And when you eventually call for a 147C letter, the IRS may not be able to match the caller against its records because the responsible party on file no longer matches the person on the phone.
Applying Is Free — Don’t Pay for It
The IRS does not charge for an EIN. You can apply online through the IRS website and receive the number immediately on approval. The online tool runs Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern, Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern, and Sundays from 6:00 p.m. to midnight Eastern, and the session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity.11Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
Third-party sites, some designed to look like government pages, charge hundreds of dollars to file the same form on your behalf. The IRS states plainly: “You never have to pay a fee for an EIN.”11Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number The FTC suggests searching any company’s name together with the words “review,” “complaint,” or “scam” before paying for something you can do directly.12Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Dont Pay to Get Your Employer Identification Number (EIN)