If your EIN confirmation is missing and a bank or agency wants proof from the IRS, the document you need is Letter 147C. To get a 147C letter, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, verify your identity as the responsible party on file, and ask the representative to send it by fax. Fax delivery often happens during the same call. Mail delivery takes four to six weeks.1Internal Revenue Service. Let Us Help You
What Letter 147C Is
The IRS issues the original EIN assignment notice, CP 575, exactly once and will not reissue it. Letter 147C is the official replacement. It carries the same core information: the entity’s legal name, the nine-digit EIN, and confirmation that the IRS assigned the number. The IRS lists Letter 147C as one of only two ways to officially confirm your EIN, the other being a business entity transcript.2Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
Most banks, state agencies, and payroll providers accept a 147C the same way they accept a CP 575. If someone insists on the original, letting them know the IRS does not reissue CP 575 usually settles it.
What to Have Ready Before You Call
The representative will not release anything until you match what the IRS has on file. Gather these first:
- The entity’s legal name exactly as it appeared on the original Form SS-4.
- The business address used on that application. Small formatting differences can slow things down.
- The full name and Social Security Number or ITIN of the responsible party listed on the SS-4.
- The approximate date the EIN was requested.
Without the responsible party’s identifying information, the representative cannot verify you and cannot send the letter.
Making the Call
The Business and Specialty Tax Line is 800-829-4933, open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Callers in Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time.3Internal Revenue Service. Telephone Assistance Contacts for Business Customers Tell the representative you need Letter 147C for EIN verification.
You will be asked whether you want the letter by fax or by mail. Fax is much faster; the representative typically confirms your fax number and sends it during the call or shortly after. Mail goes to the address the IRS has on file for the entity and takes four to six weeks.1Internal Revenue Service. Let Us Help You
Hold times vary. Early weekday mornings, especially Tuesday through Thursday, tend to be shortest. Monday mornings and days near tax deadlines are the worst.
When the Address or Responsible Party on File Is Wrong
If you want the letter mailed but the address on file is outdated, update it first with Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business. The same form handles responsible party changes. Processing takes roughly four to six weeks.4Internal Revenue Service. Form 8822-B Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business
A bigger problem: the IRS verifies identity against the responsible party on file. If that person has left the company, died, or is otherwise unreachable, no one else can pass verification until the record is updated. The current officer or owner submits Form 8822-B to name a new responsible party, and once the IRS processes it, that person can call and request the 147C using their own information. The IRS asks for this update within 60 days of any change.5Internal Revenue Service. Responsible Parties and Nominees
Form 8822-B must be signed by an authorized person, such as an officer, owner, general partner, or LLC member-manager. If an attorney or other representative signs for the business, attach a copy of the power of attorney. Build the processing time into your plan if you also need the 147C by mail.
When Someone Else Calls for You
An accountant, attorney, or other third party can request the 147C, but they need written authorization on file first. Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization, lets a designated person receive confidential tax information, and the instructions specifically list Form SS-4 information as an eligible use.6Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 8821 (09/2021) For broader representation, Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, is the appropriate form. Either authorization must be on file before the third party calls, so allow lead time.
Faster Alternatives if You Only Need the Number
Not every situation calls for an IRS letter on letterhead. If someone simply needs to confirm your EIN, several faster options may satisfy them:
- A previously filed entity tax return, such as Form 1120, 1065, or 941, which displays the EIN.
- A business entity transcript, which the IRS treats as an official EIN confirmation alongside Letter 147C.2Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
- Other business records that show the number, such as bank statements, loan applications, prior IRS correspondence, or state registration documents.
- Verbal confirmation from the 800-829-4933 representative after identity verification. This produces no document but can help in a pinch.
If the requester specifically demands an IRS-issued document on letterhead, Letter 147C is what you need. If they just need the nine digits confirmed, one of the options above usually clears it.
International Callers
If the business’s principal place of business is outside the United States, the domestic toll-free number will not work. Use 267-941-1099, open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time.2Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number Standard international calling charges apply, and the identity verification requirements are the same.