When you first get an EIN Number, the IRS sends you an EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575).
- If you got your EIN Number online, you can download the CP 575 online
- If you got your EIN Number by mail or fax, the IRS will mail you a CP 575 (it’s mailed to the address you listed on 4a and 4b of Form SS-4; takes 4-6 weeks to arrive)
Note: If you are a Third Party Designee, you cannot download the CP 575 if applying online. The CP 575 will be mailed to the EIN Responsible Party.
Some people lose the CP 575 EIN Confirmation Letter and need an official copy of their LLC’s EIN Number for things like opening an LLC bank account.
The IRS only issues the EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575) one time. You can’t get this letter again. In fact, “CP” means the letter was auto-generated by a computer. So even if you call the IRS, no one there can recreate the CP 575.
However, there is good news. You can still get an official “EIN Letter” from the IRS. It’s just not called an EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575).
Instead, it’s called an EIN Verification Letter (147C).
Note: The full name of the 147C is actually EIN Verification Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned.
The CP 575 and 147C are technically different letters, however, they are both official letters from the IRS and can be used for all business matters.
Here is what an EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575) looks like:
Here is what an EIN Verification Letter (147C) looks like:
How to get a 147C EIN Verification Letter from the IRS
The only two ways to get an EIN Verification Letter (147C) is to call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933, or to mail the IRS a written request.
Recommendation: We recommend calling the IRS between 7am and 10am or between 3pm and 7pm. And don’t call on Monday (the busiest day).
An EIN Verification Letter 147C can be requested by phone or by mail. But you can’t request it by fax.
It’s also important to note that requesting this letter by mail takes longer than requesting it by phone. Said another way, requesting 147C by mail may take 4-6 weeks to arrive. If you’d like to get your EIN verification letter faster, we recommend requesting the letter by phone.
Here’s how to call the IRS and get a 147C Letter
- Call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933 (the “business and specialty tax line”).
- Press option 1 for English.
- Press option 1 for Employer Identification Numbers.
- Press option 3 for “If you already have an EIN, but you can’t remember it, etc.”
- Tell the IRS agent that you have an LLC and need an EIN Verification Letter (147C).
- The IRS agent will ask a few security questions to confirm you own your LLC.
- Tell the IRS agent whether you’d like to receive the 147C Letter by mail or fax.
Tip: Only an owner of your LLC can request a 147C Letter. No one else can call for you, unless they have a Power of Attorney on file with the IRS. If you have a Single-Member LLC, refer to yourself as the “owner” (instead of Member). If you have a Multi-Member LLC, refer to yourself as a “partner” (instead of a Member).
Here’s how to write to the IRS and get a 147C Letter
You can also request an EIN verification letter 147C by mail.
What should I include in my IRS 147C request?
To request IRS Form 147C by mail, you’ll need to write the IRS a letter that contains:
- the date,
- your LLC’s name,
- your LLC’s EIN number, and
- a general request for Form 147C.
We’ve created a letter for you, so all you have to do is fill in the blanks with your LLC information.
Downloads
IRS – Request for EIN Verification Letter (147C) (Word)
IRS – Request for EIN Verification Letter (147C) (PDF)
IRS – Request for EIN Verification Letter (147C) (Google Doc)
As long as the information you submit in the letter is correct, the IRS will fulfill your written request.
Where do I mail my written request for an EIN verification letter?
The address you mail your written request to is state-dependent. Said another way, the address you submit your letter to depends on where your LLC is located.
That said, you’ll need to mail your request to 1 of 2 addresses:
Internal Revenue Service
333 West Pershing Rd.
Mail Stop 6055 S-2
Kansas City, MO 64108
Internal Revenue Service
Stop 6273
Ogden, UT 84201
Which address should I use to request my 147C by mail?
You should mail your written request to the Kansas City, Missouri office if your LLC is located in and does business in any of the following states:
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
You should mail your written request to the Ogden, Utah office if your LLC is located in and does business in any of the following states (or anywhere outside of the US):
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
How will the IRS send me EIN Verification Letter 147C?
For security reasons, the IRS will never send you anything by email. Instead, the IRS will send you an EIN Verification Letter (147C) two ways:
- by mail
- by fax (you can use an actual fax or a digital/online fax)
147C by mail
If you choose to receive your 147C by mail, it can take 4-6 weeks before your EIN Verification Letter (147C) arrives.
The IRS will mail your 147C Letter to the mailing address they have on file for your LLC. You’ll be able to confirm this address when you’re on the phone with the IRS agent.
147C by fax
If you choose fax, the IRS will fax you the 147C Letter while you’re on the phone.
Tip: The IRS agent will ask, “Do you have a private and secure fax next to you?” If you are using a digital/online fax, say yes.
Congratulations! You have successfully requested a 147C, EIN Verification Letter for your LLC. We recommend making a few copies and keeping them with your business records.
References
IRS: Lost or Misplaced Your EIN
IRS: Telephone Assistance Contacts for Business Customers
IRS: About Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
IRS: Internal Revenue Manuals 21.7.1 BMF/NMF Miscellaneous Information
IRS: Internal Revenue Manuals 21.7.13 Assigning Employer Identification Numbers (EINs)
Matt Horwitz
Founder & Educator, LLC University®
Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
