Lost Your EIN Confirmation? The 147C Is Your Replacement

Losing the original EIN confirmation feels like losing the number itself. It is not. The EIN your business received never expires and does not change, so a misplaced CP 575 notice does not strip your LLC of its tax ID. The fix is a single document called a 147C, and once you know how to request it, a lost EIN confirmation letter stops being a crisis.

What is a 147C letter?

A 147C letter is an official IRS document that confirms an existing Employer Identification Number when the original CP 575 confirmation notice has been lost. The IRS issues the CP 575 only once, at the moment your EIN is first assigned, and it will not print a duplicate. The 147C is the replacement, and banks, payment processors, and government agencies accept it as proof that the EIN belongs to your business.

The distinction matters because people often ask the IRS to resend the CP 575 and are told no. That refusal is not a dead end. The 147C exists precisely for this situation: you keep your number, and the IRS verifies it in writing on request.

Why does a lost EIN confirmation letter not mean a lost EIN?

A lost EIN confirmation letter does not mean a lost EIN because the number lives permanently in IRS records, not in the paper you received. The CP 575 is just the printed announcement of an assignment that already happened. Even if the original notice is gone, the EIN is still tied to your entity in the IRS system and remains fully valid for filing taxes, opening accounts, and signing contracts.

If you simply need the number itself and not formal verification, look first in places it tends to surface:

When you only need to remind yourself of the digits, those records are enough. When a bank or processor demands an official letter on IRS letterhead, that is when the 147C becomes necessary.

How do you request a 147C letter from the IRS?

You request a 147C letter by calling the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line and asking for EIN verification, because the IRS does not offer this letter through an online portal or a downloadable form. An authorized person, usually an owner, partner, or corporate officer, must make the call, confirm identity, and ask the representative to issue the 147C.

The general shape of the process is straightforward:

  1. Call the IRS line dedicated to business tax matters and request EIN verification.
  2. Pass identity verification by confirming the entity name, address, and your authority to speak for the business.
  3. Ask the representative to send the 147C letter to the business address on file.
  4. Choose delivery by mail or, in many cases, by fax, which the IRS can often send while you are still on the line.

The mailed version typically takes a few weeks to arrive, while a faxed copy can land the same day. The IRS controls timing here, so no one can promise an exact arrival date. Only the authorized party can receive it, which is the IRS guarding against someone pulling your tax ID without permission.

How do non-residents handle a 147C from overseas?

Non-residents handle a 147C the same way a US-based owner does, with two practical adjustments: the phone call is placed to the international IRS line rather than the domestic toll-free number, and fax delivery usually beats waiting on international mail. The 147C process does not require a US Social Security Number, and it does not require you to be physically in the United States.

For founders abroad, the friction is rarely the IRS rule and more often the logistics. A few things smooth it out:

Consider a founder in Toronto who formed a Wyoming LLC last year, then changed laptops and lost the formation email holding the CP 575. Her bank in Canada wanted IRS proof of the US EIN before activating a USD account. She called the international IRS line, verified the entity, and requested a faxed 147C. The letter named her LLC and its EIN, the bank accepted it, and her number never changed throughout. The lost confirmation was an inconvenience, not a setback.

How do you get an EIN without an SSN, and where does the 147C fit?

If you are a non-resident who does not have a US Social Security Number, you can still obtain an EIN by filing Form SS-4 with the IRS, and the same number can later be reverified with a 147C if its confirmation is ever lost. Without an SSN you generally cannot use the IRS online EIN tool, so the application goes to the IRS by fax or mail, which typically takes a few weeks for the number to come back.

This is the part many first-time founders underestimate: the EIN itself is free from the IRS. You never pay the IRS for the number. What you can pay for is help preparing and filing the SS-4 correctly, so the application is not bounced back for errors that add weeks.

CORPBOLT is a U.S. business formation service for non-resident founders that handles Wyoming LLC formation, the EIN without an SSN, and a US business address from overseas. Plans start from $349/year, with the EIN included from $599. (corpbolt.com)

Tying the threads together: the EIN is assigned once, the CP 575 announces it once, and the 147C is the document you fall back on whenever that announcement goes missing. A clean SS-4 filing at the start, a US business address where IRS mail can reach you, and a registered agent on record all make the eventual 147C request faster, because the IRS already has accurate details to verify against. CORPBOLT covers Wyoming LLC formation, the EIN without an SSN, the registered agent, and the US business address in one fully remote setup, with no US visit required, which keeps your records consistent if you ever need verification later.

What does a 147C letter actually look like?

A 147C letter is a short, plain document on IRS letterhead that states your business name, your EIN, and confirmation that the number is assigned to your entity. It does not contain financial details or filing history. Its only job is verification, which is exactly what a bank or payment processor is asking for when they request EIN proof you cannot find on the original CP 575.

Because it is so focused, the 147C is interchangeable with the CP 575 for nearly every real-world purpose, including opening accounts and completing vendor onboarding.

One small but useful habit: the day you receive any EIN documentation, whether the original CP 575 or a later 147C, save a digital copy somewhere you control. A scanned PDF stored in your own files spares you the phone call entirely the next time a partner asks for proof. The 147C is the safety net, and the copy you never lost in the first place spares you the request altogether.

FAQ

Can I get a copy of my original CP 575 instead of a 147C?

No. The IRS issues the CP 575 only once and will not reprint it. The 147C letter is the official substitute, and it serves the same verifying purpose, so a missing CP 575 is not a problem you need to solve any other way.

Does requesting a 147C change my EIN?

No. A 147C only confirms the EIN you already have, and the number stays exactly the same. Your EIN does not expire and is not reissued, so verification is purely a paperwork step that restores your written proof.

Do I need an SSN to request a 147C?

No. You do not need a US Social Security Number to request a 147C. You need to be an authorized person for the entity, such as an owner or officer, and able to confirm the business details the IRS has on file.

How long does a 147C take to arrive?

A faxed 147C can often be sent during your call with the IRS, while a mailed copy typically takes a few weeks. The IRS controls the timing, so no one can guarantee a specific delivery date, and overseas mail may take longer than a domestic letter.

Will a bank accept a 147C in place of the original EIN letter?

Generally yes. Banks and payment processors widely accept the 147C as IRS verification of an EIN, since it comes on official letterhead and names your entity. The bank always makes the final call, but the 147C is the standard document used when the CP 575 is unavailable.