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Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned, is the IRS letter that confirms a business's existing Employer Identification Number (EIN), and you get it free by calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. The IRS assistor can fax the 147C to you during the call or mail it to the address the IRS has on file, which takes 10 to 14 business days. There is no Form 147C to fill out and no way to request the letter online; the online alternative is the digital CP575 that eligible Business Tax Account users can download.
Key takeaways:
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A 147C letter is the IRS letter that verifies the Employer Identification Number (EIN) already assigned to a business, together with the business name and address the IRS has on file. Its formal name in IRS systems is "Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned," and the letter itself is marked "LTR 147C." Businesses usually request one after losing the confirmation notice the IRS sent when the EIN was first issued.
That original notice, the CP 575 EIN confirmation notice, is issued once and cannot be duplicated. When a business asks the IRS for a copy, IRS procedures tell the assistor to send Letter 147C instead. For nearly every third party that asks "show me your EIN paperwork," a 147C is accepted in place of the original.
A 147C can also arrive without a phone call. If a business mails or faxes Form SS-4 for an EIN it already has, with no change in ownership or structure, the IRS mails Letter 147C with the existing number instead of assigning a second one. If you're still trying to track down the number itself, our guide on how to find your EIN number lists every place to look before you call.
No. There is no Form 147C: 147C is a letter the IRS generates and signs, not a form you download, fill out, or file. If a bank or platform asks for "Form 147C" or a "147C request form," it means this letter, and you request it by phone. The form behind an EIN is Form SS-4, which you file to apply for a new one; our Form SS-4 walkthrough covers it line by line.
A 147C letter is a one-page letter on Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service letterhead, with a reply reference number, the date, "LTR 147C," and your EIN in the top corner, followed by your business name and address as the IRS has them. The body reads "Thank you for your telephone inquiry of [date]. Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) is XX-XXXXXXX," tells you to keep the letter in your permanent records and to use your name and EIN on all business federal tax forms, and is signed by an IRS Accounts Management employee. The 147C letter the University of Iowa posts publicly is a real example. A faxed 147C arrives behind an IRS cover sheet.
The CP 575 is the original notice the IRS sends once, when it assigns an EIN; Letter 147C is the confirmation the IRS sends later, on request, as many times as you need one. Both prove the same EIN, and both are free. If you still have your CP 575, use it; if it's lost, ask for a 147C. Since July 2026 some businesses have a third option, the digital CP575 in Business Tax Account, covered below. Our CP 575 notice guide compares all three documents side by side, including what the original shows and when it arrives.
You don't need a 147C just to have one on file. You need it when a third party asks for documented proof of your EIN and you can't produce the original. When I ran Anna Money, which served more than 60,000 small businesses, proof of EIN held up new accounts more often than almost any other document. The common triggers:
That last point is the quiet reason a 147C is so useful. It doesn't just prove your EIN; it shows precisely how the IRS has your business name and address recorded, which settles a name-mismatch question before a filing bounces.
To request a 147C letter, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, prove you're authorized for the business, and ask for "Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned," delivered by fax or mail. The IRS EIN page sends every 147C request to this phone line. Here's the full process.
Step 1: Gather what the assistor will ask for. Have the EIN if you have it written down anywhere; if you can't provide it, the assistor runs extra identity checks before looking it up. Also have the business's legal name and address as the IRS knows them, your own name, SSN or ITIN, and title (owner, partner, officer), and a fax number where you are, if you want the letter today. A representative calling for you needs Form 2848 or Form 8821 (see who can request a 147C, below).
Step 2: Call 800-829-4933. The line is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time, and residents of Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time (TTY/TDD: 800-829-4059). The IRS says waits average about 15 minutes from May through December, when they're shorter Wednesday through Friday, and about 8 minutes from January through April, when Mondays and Tuesdays run longer. When waits pass 15 minutes, the IRS may offer a callback instead of hold. Choose the menu option for employer identification numbers; menus change, so listen for the prompt about an existing EIN.
Step 3: Verify your identity and your role. The assistor confirms who you are and your position with the business before discussing the account. The IRS won't disclose an EIN to a caller it can't authenticate.
Step 4: Ask for "Letter 147C." Say you need Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned, because the original confirmation is lost. The assistor generates it during the call.
Step 5: Choose fax or mail. This step decides whether you get the letter today or in two to three weeks.
| Fax | ||
|---|---|---|
| When it arrives | During or shortly after the call | 10 to 14 business days |
| Where it goes | A fax number at your location, or close enough to collect it | The address the IRS has on file |
| Watch out for | The IRS won't fax it to your bank or another third party without your written permission | If you moved and never filed Form 8822-B, it goes to the old address |
| Best for | A bank, lender, or platform waiting on you this week | No deadline, or no fax access |
The fax rule comes from IRS disclosure procedures: the fax number must be somewhere you, or your authorized representative, can physically collect the pages. An online fax number that delivers to your own inbox can work; confirm the number with the assistor before you hang up.
No. The IRS doesn't issue Letter 147C online, by email, or through a request form. Since July 2026, though, the IRS offers an online substitute: eligible Business Tax Account users can download a digital CP575, the Employer Identification Number Verification Notice, from Tax Records, and the IRS says banks and other institutions accept it in place of Letter 147C.
Eligibility for the digital CP575 depends on your role. A sole proprietor qualifies with an SSN or ITIN, an EIN, and a Schedule C or Schedule F on the return; partnerships, S corporations, C corporations, tax-exempt organizations, and government entities qualify through a designated official. Business Tax Account isn't open yet to single-member LLCs that file as sole proprietors, and IRS phone assistors can't access your account for you. The IRS also lists a third way to confirm an EIN, a business entity transcript, which shows the EIN, name, address, and filing requirements.
The IRS releases a 147C only to someone entitled to the business's tax information, or to a representative that person has authorized. IRS procedures ask each caller for their position with the business and apply the disclosure rules in Internal Revenue Code §6103(e):
Anyone else is turned away, but the owner can be conferenced into the call or can call personally. Nominees, people given limited authority to act for an entity during its formation, can't apply for an EIN and shouldn't be listed on Form SS-4. The IRS guards these calls because an EIN is the key to a business's tax identity.
Here's how the options compare for an owner with a deadline. Dana runs Riverside Design LLC, a single-member LLC formed in 2024 whose income goes on Dana's Schedule C. The CP 575 was lost in a move, and the new bank wants written EIN proof before it opens the account on Friday. It's Tuesday morning.
| Option | What happens | Ready by Friday? |
|---|---|---|
| Digital CP575 in Business Tax Account | Not available: Business Tax Account doesn't yet cover single-member LLCs that file as sole proprietors | No |
| Letter 147C by mail | Arrives two to three weeks after the call | No |
| Letter 147C by fax | Dana calls 800-829-4933 with the EIN (the old bank had it on file), the LLC's name and address as they appeared on the EIN application, and an online fax number, passes identity verification, and asks for Letter 147C by fax | Yes, usually the same day |
Dana receives the fax, forwards the PDF to the bank, and the account opens on schedule. The call costs nothing. The only way this goes sideways is a mismatch between the name or address Dana gives and what the IRS has on file, which is why Dana uses the LLC's full name from the application rather than a shortened version.
Asking the IRS to "resend the CP-575." The IRS can't duplicate the original notice. Ask for a 147C instead, or download the digital CP575 if you're eligible for Business Tax Account.
Choosing mail when you needed it yesterday. If a bank or vendor is waiting on you, ask for fax delivery; a mailed letter won't arrive in time.
Giving the assistor your bank's fax number. The IRS faxes a 147C to you or your authorized representative, not to a bank or other third party, unless you give written permission. Receive it yourself, then forward it.
Having an unauthorized person call. The IRS won't release EIN information to an assistant, spouse, or bookkeeper who isn't authorized. File a Form 2848 or 8821 first, or join the call yourself.
Not writing down your EIN afterward. Once you have the 147C, save a digital copy somewhere you'll actually find it and store your EIN in your records so you never have to repeat this.
A lost EIN letter is usually the first request in a longer list: the bank or lender asks for statements and revenue figures next. Jupid is an AI accountant that works in WhatsApp and iMessage. You connect your business bank account, and Jupid categorizes every transaction automatically with 95.9% accuracy, so your books stay current without spreadsheets. When an underwriter wants last quarter's revenue or a vendor asks what you paid contractors, you ask in chat and get the answer in real time. File the 147C with your formation documents, and let Jupid keep the numbers ready for whoever asks next. Try Jupid
This guide is for general educational purposes and does not constitute tax, legal, or accounting advice. IRS phone menus, processing times, and procedures can change. Confirm current details with the IRS directly at 800-829-4933 or irs.gov, and consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation.
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Fintech CEO with 10+ years building accounting and financial technology products. Previously co-founded and scaled an AI-powered accounting platform to $30M revenue and 100K+ business users, achieving 30,000 customers per accountant through automation — recognized by CNBC as a top fintech company. Holds a Master's in Management Information Systems. At Jupid, he leads the development of AI-native bookkeeping, tax, and compliance tools designed for freelancers and small business owners.
Form SS-4 is how you apply for an EIN in 2026. A line-by-line walkthrough of the legal name, responsible party, entity type, and how to apply fastest.
The CP 575 is the one-time IRS notice that assigns your EIN. What versions A-J show, why it can't be reissued, and how to get a digital CP575 or a 147C.
No, most sole proprietors can use an SSN. An EIN is required for employees, excise returns, a solo 401(k), or nonresident alien withholding. It's free.
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