Where Can I Find My Business Tax ID Number? CP 575 and 147C

Your business tax ID number, formally called an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is most likely printed on paperwork you already have: the IRS assignment notice you received when the EIN was issued, any prior federal business tax return, or the file your bank opened when you set up the business account. If none of those turn up the number, you can get it directly from the IRS by calling 800-829-4933. The IRS does not charge a fee to retrieve or verify your own EIN.1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number

Start With the CP 575 Assignment Notice

When the IRS approved your EIN application, it issued a one-page notice called a CP 575. If you applied online, you had the chance to download and print it at the end of the session.2Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025) If you applied by mail or fax, the IRS mailed the CP 575 to the address on your Form SS-4. Many owners file it with their articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, or other formation paperwork, so check there first.

The IRS issues the CP 575 only once and will not send a duplicate. If the original is gone, the replacement is Letter 147C, described further below.3Taxpayer Advocate Service. When Taxpayers Struggle to Obtain an EIN, Everyone Loses

Check Your Prior Business Tax Returns

Your EIN prints near the top of every federal business return you have filed. Where exactly to look depends on your entity type:

If a tax professional filed for you, they almost certainly have the number in their client file and can read it back after a quick call.

Look at Bank, Payroll, and Contractor Records

Several outside parties are required to have your EIN on file, and one of them may hand it to you faster than the IRS will.

Your business bank collected the EIN when you opened the account. It generally appears on the original account agreement, on commercial loan paperwork, and in the account-holder identification block of statements. If it isn’t visible on a statement, the bank’s business banking team can read it back after verifying your identity.

Your EIN also appears in Box b of every W-2 you have issued to employees and on every 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC you sent to a contractor.6Internal Revenue Service. General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 (2025) Any vendor or contractor who received a Form W-9 from your company also has the number in their accounts payable file and can look it up for you.

Try State and Local Filings

State agencies often capture your federal EIN as part of their own registrations. Your articles of incorporation or organization filed with the Secretary of State may include it, and so may your local business license, sales tax permit, or state employer withholding registration. These are useful when your federal paperwork is temporarily out of reach.

Call the IRS or Request Letter 147C

When no paperwork turns up the number, 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 (Alaska and Hawaii use Pacific time).7Internal Revenue Service. Telephone Assistance Contacts for Business Customers After identity verification, the agent can read your EIN over the phone or send Letter 147C, an official verification that banks and licensing agencies generally accept in place of the original CP 575.8Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number A faxed 147C typically arrives the same day; a mailed one takes roughly two weeks. If you applied for the EIN very recently, you must wait at least a month after your application before the IRS can process a 147C request.3Taxpayer Advocate Service. When Taxpayers Struggle to Obtain an EIN, Everyone Loses

Who Can Make the Call

The IRS will only release the EIN to someone authorized to act for the entity:

  • An owner, partner, corporate officer, or sole proprietor listed on the original EIN application.
  • An authorized representative with a valid Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) or Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) on file, with the appropriate box checked for EIN matters.9Internal Revenue Service. BMF/NMF Miscellaneous Information
  • A payroll or tax provider acting as reporting agent under a valid Form 8655.

If you are a third party without authorization on file, the agent can conference the owner in, or the owner can call separately.

What to Have in Front of You

Before you dial, gather:

  • The full legal business name exactly as it appeared on the original application.
  • The current business address the IRS has on file.
  • Your Social Security Number, used to verify the caller.
  • Your title with the business, such as owner, president, managing member, or treasurer.

If the business has moved or the name has changed since you applied, the mismatch can slow verification. Filing Form 8822-B (Change of Address) first can help align the IRS record with what you’ll tell the agent.8Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number

Ignore Sites That Charge a Fee

Some third-party websites charge to “retrieve” or “file for” an EIN and design their pages to resemble official IRS pages. The Federal Trade Commission has warned that these businesses sometimes falsely imply an affiliation with the IRS or suggest a fee is required.10Federal Trade Commission. Looking for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)? The FTC Warns Businesses and Consumers to Watch Out for IRS Imposters Applying for a new EIN, recovering a lost one, and requesting a 147C are all free directly through the IRS.1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number If a site asks for payment to look up your number, close the tab and go to irs.gov.