If a bank, lender, or payroll provider just asked you to verify your EIN and you can't find the original confirmation letter, here's the direct path to fixing that.
One thing worth doing right after you get this letter, regardless of how you obtain it: put it in your permanent business file, not a folder you'll have to search for. You'll likely be asked to verify your EIN more than once over the life of your business. Treat it like your articles of organization: something you keep on hand indefinitely, not something you request only when you're already under time pressure.
What Is a 147c Letter?
When the IRS first assigns your business an Employer Identification Number, it mails a one-time confirmation notice called a CP575. That notice isn't reissued. If you lose it, the IRS's replacement document is called a 147c letter. It confirms your EIN and your business's legal name on official IRS letterhead, and it serves the same purpose as the original for almost everything a bank, agency, or vendor might ask for.
If You Already Have Business Tax Account Access
The IRS now offers a newer digital EIN verification notice through its online Business Tax Account. If you're already registered for account access with the right role for your business type, this is your fastest option: sign in and download it directly, no call needed.
If you're not already registered, this isn't the quick option it sounds like. Setting up access for the first time can take longer than just requesting the 147c letter by phone. We cover that registration process, and when it's actually worth doing, in our guide to setting up an IRS Business Tax Account.
Check These Places Before You Call the IRS
Before you request anything from the IRS, it's worth spending ten minutes checking whether someone already has a copy.
Your bank. If you provided EIN verification when you originally opened your business account, many banks keep a scan on file and can send it back to you quickly.
Your accountant or tax preparer. If your business has filed a return before, whoever prepared it may already have your EIN documentation in their client file.
Whoever helped you form the business. If you used a formation service like LegalZoom, a registered agent, or an attorney to set up your LLC or corporation, they often keep a copy of the EIN confirmation as part of your formation paperwork.
None of these are official IRS documents, so they won't satisfy every request. But if the bank or vendor asking for verification just needs to confirm your EIN and business name, a copy from one of these sources may be all you need, and it's worth ruling out before you spend time on hold with the IRS.
How to Request a 147c Letter by Phone
If none of the above gets you what you need, this is the direct route.
Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line: 1-800-829-4933
Hours are Monday through Friday, generally 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. There's no online form or email option for requesting this letter. The request has to start with a phone call.
Step 1: Work through the phone menu. Select the options for EIN or business tax account questions. The system has several layers, so listen fully before choosing.
Step 2: Hold for a representative. Wait times vary. Calling earlier in the day and earlier in the week tends to be faster.
Step 3: Verify your identity. Have this ready before you call:
Your EIN, or enough information for the representative to locate it
Your business's legal name exactly as it's filed with the IRS
Your name and title as an authorized individual
Your business address currently on file
Step 4: Choose your delivery method. This is the choice that determines whether you have the letter today or in several weeks.
Fax: The agent can transmit the letter to a fax number while you're still on the call, and you'll typically have it within minutes. If you don't own a physical fax machine, you don't need one. Online fax services (search "online fax number" or "virtual fax") give you a receiving number in minutes and forward whatever comes in as a PDF to your email, which is usually simpler than tracking down a fax machine. Some shipping stores and public libraries also offer fax service if you'd rather use a physical location, though it's worth calling ahead to confirm the store still has a working machine.
Mail: The letter goes to whatever address the IRS currently has on file for your business. Timelines vary by IRS processing volume at the time, and can run anywhere from about a week to several weeks. If you need the letter soon, fax is the far more reliable option.
The IRS does not email the letter under any circumstances, for security reasons.
Who Is Allowed to Request It
The IRS will only release this information to an authorized party:
The business owner, for a sole proprietorship
A corporate officer or general partner listed in IRS records
An authorized representative with a valid Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) on file
If your accountant already handles your filings and has a POA on record, they can usually make this call for you without pulling you away from running your business.
If Your Business Address Has Changed
The IRS sends correspondence to whatever address it currently has on file. If that's out of date, a mailed letter could go to the wrong place.
If your business address changed, file Form 8822-B
If your personal address changed (relevant for sole proprietors and partners), file Form 8822
Both are mailed forms and typically take four to six weeks to process. If you need the letter now, choosing fax delivery sidesteps the address problem entirely, since you can give any fax number at the time of your call, regardless of what address the IRS has on record.
After You Receive Your Letter
The 147c letter doesn't expire, but it reflects your business information as of the date it was issued. If your legal business name has changed since your EIN was assigned, the letter will show your old name, and correcting that with the IRS is a separate process.
Store your copy with your articles of organization or incorporation, the documents banks, licensing agencies, and new vendors ask for first. Make a couple of digital and physical copies so you're not repeating this process the next time you're asked.
