EIN Letter from IRS: CP575, 147C, and What to Do

A new client hands you a bank’s checklist for opening a business account. Item three: “Provide EIN verification letter.” The client has the number — nine digits, written on a Post-it — but the original IRS confirmation letter is long gone. You now have about three options and a limited amount of time before the bank loses patience.

This is the situation that makes understanding IRS EIN letters genuinely practical, not theoretical.

What an EIN Is and Why the Letter Matters

An Employer Identification Number is a unique nine-digit federal tax identification number, formatted XX-XXXXXXX, that the IRS assigns to businesses and other entities for tax filing and reporting purposes. The number itself lives in the IRS system forever once issued. The letter confirming it is what third parties — banks, state agencies, lenders — actually want to see.

There are three distinct documents that can serve as EIN proof. Each has a specific origin story, and conflating them causes unnecessary back-and-forth with clients.

The Three EIN Letters the IRS Issues

CP575: The Original Confirmation Notice

When the IRS issues an EIN for the first time, it sends Notice CP575 (issued in a series from CP575A through CP575J). This is the original EIN confirmation letter. If a client applied online, they could print a confirmation immediately at the end of the application — the IRS online EIN application issues the number in minutes and lets applicants print confirmation on the spot.

The CP575 is the gold standard. Banks recognize it, the IRS recognizes it, and it requires no phone calls to obtain if the client applied online and saved the PDF. The problem: most clients didn’t save the PDF, and the IRS will not reissue a CP575.

Letter 147C: EIN Verification for Existing Accounts

When the EIN has already been assigned and the IRS needs to correspond with a taxpayer to verify that account, it issues Letter 147C, formally titled “EIN Previously Assigned.” This is the document most practitioners end up requesting on behalf of clients who lost their CP575.

Letter 147C confirms the legal name of the business, the EIN, the mailing address on file, and that the EIN was previously issued — but it does not assign or change the EIN. Banks and financial institutions accept it in place of the original CP575.

One critical restriction: only authorized representatives can request Letter 147C. That means a business owner, partner, corporate officer, or someone with a valid IRS Form 2848 Power of Attorney on file. If you plan to call on behalf of a client, have that Form 2848 ready before you dial.

To request Letter 147C, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line. Expect hold times. The IRS will ask security questions to verify identity, then mail the letter or read it to you over the phone. You can ask them to fax it to a secure fax number — that is still faster than waiting for mail.

Digital CP575 via Business Tax Account

The IRS Business Tax Account (BTA) now allows eligible designated officials to download a digital EIN verification letter — essentially a digital CP575. The IRS has confirmed this digital notice can be used in place of Letter 147C or the original CP575 series for bank and financial institution verification purposes.

If your client has BTA access and is a designated official for the entity, this is the fastest path. No phone call, no wait, no mail delay. Point them to the BTA portal IRS and walk them through pulling the digital notice. Not every entity has a qualifying designated official set up in BTA yet, but for those that do, this option saves real time.

Letter 4158C: The TE/GE Exception

For organizations in the Tax Exempt/Government Entities area — think nonprofits, government entities, pension plans — the IRS issues Letter 4158C when the organization requests written EIN confirmation. If you work with exempt-organization clients and they ask for “the EIN letter,” the relevant document is 4158C, not 147C. The process runs through TE/GE Customer Account Services rather than the standard business tax line.

Step-by-Step: Getting a Replacement EIN Letter

Step 1 — Check the BTA first. If the entity’s designated official has BTA access, log in and look for the digital EIN verification letter. This takes minutes if access is already established.

Step 2 — Request an entity transcript. The IRS also allows taxpayers to confirm an existing EIN by requesting an entity transcript. This is less commonly accepted by banks as standalone EIN proof, but it does confirm the number on file.

Step 3 — Call for Letter 147C. If BTA isn’t an option, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line. Have Form 2848 current and available. Request that the letter be faxed to a secure fax number rather than mailed — it cuts the wait from weeks to same-day in many cases.

Step 4 — Open any IRS correspondence immediately. The IRS emphasizes that any letter or notice about a tax account should be opened promptly and read carefully to understand what the IRS is communicating and what actions are required. If a CP575 or 147C arrives for a client, don’t let it sit in a pile.

Common Mistakes Practitioners Make

• Telling clients to “just call the IRS” without confirming that an authorized representative will be on the line. An employee who isn’t an officer cannot get Letter 147C issued.
• Confusing Letter 147C with CP575. Banks sometimes ask specifically for one or the other — know what the institution will accept before you start the process.
• Missing the TE/GE distinction. For nonprofit clients, the 4158C path is different from the standard 147C request. Going to the wrong IRS unit wastes time.
• Not keeping a copy in the client file. Once you obtain a 147C or digital CP575, store it in your document management system. The next bank request will happen sooner than you think.

How Sagenext Helps

Handling EIN verification for multiple clients means pulling documents, confirming IRS correspondence, and updating client files — all while managing active tax engagements. When that work happens across a distributed firm, the software environment matters.

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For a firm handling a high volume of business clients — each with their own EIN documentation needs — having your practice software accessible from anywhere, with multi-user access and managed infrastructure, removes one layer of friction from an already process-heavy workflow. offers a free trial with no credit card required if you want to see the environment before committing.

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Key Takeaways

• CP575 is the original EIN confirmation notice issued when the IRS first assigns an EIN; the IRS will not reissue it, but a digital version is available through the IRS Business Tax Account for eligible designated officials.
• Letter 147C (“EIN Previously Assigned”) is the standard replacement verification letter — acceptable to banks and financial institutions in place of the original CP575.
• Only authorized representatives — owners, officers, or holders of a valid Form 2848 — can request Letter 147C; verify authorization before calling the IRS.
• Nonprofits and TE/GE entities receive Letter 4158C for EIN confirmation, not Letter 147C — route those requests through TE/GE Customer Account Services.
• The fastest path for eligible entities is downloading the digital CP575 from the IRS Business Tax Account, which the IRS now accepts for bank verification purposes.
• Read every IRS EIN letter immediately — CP575, 147C, and 4158C all require prompt review to determine if any action is needed on the account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EIN letter from the IRS?

An EIN letter is an official IRS document confirming a business’s Employer Identification Number — a nine-digit federal tax ID formatted XX-XXXXXXX. The most common forms are CP575, issued when the IRS first assigns the EIN, and Letter 147C, issued when an existing EIN needs to be verified. Both are accepted by banks and financial institutions as proof of a business’s federal tax identification.

How do I get a copy of my EIN confirmation letter if I lost it?

The IRS does not reissue CP575. Your options are: download a digital EIN verification letter from the IRS Business Tax Account if you are a designated official for the entity, or call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line to request Letter 147C. Only authorized representatives — owners, officers, or those with Form 2848 on file — can make this request. Ask the IRS to fax the letter to a secure number for faster delivery.

What is the difference between CP575 and Letter 147C?

CP575 is issued once, when the IRS originally assigns the EIN. Letter 147C is issued afterward, on request, to verify an EIN that already exists. Letter 147C does not assign or change the EIN — it simply confirms the legal name, address, and EIN on file. Most banks accept both documents, and the IRS now also accepts the digital CP575 from the Business Tax Account as equivalent verification.

Can my CPA or accountant request Letter 147C on my behalf?

Yes, but only if a valid IRS Form 2848 Power of Attorney naming that representative is on file. The IRS requires the person calling to be an authorized representative — a business owner, partner, corporate officer, or someone with proper POA documentation. A staff accountant or bookkeeper without a current Form 2848 cannot obtain the letter on the client’s behalf.

What is Letter 4158C and who receives it?

Letter 4158C is the IRS’s EIN confirmation letter for organizations in the Tax Exempt and Government Entities area — nonprofits, government entities, and similar organizations. If a tax-exempt organization requests written confirmation of its EIN, the IRS issues 4158C rather than Letter 147C. The request goes through TE/GE Customer Account Services, not the standard Business and Specialty Tax Line used for for-profit entities.