147C Letter: How to Get Your IRS EIN Verification Letter (2026)
A 147C letter is the IRS EIN verification letter that replaces a lost CP-575. Call the Business & Specialty line at 800-829-4933, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. The IRS faxes IRS Letter 147C in 1 to 2 business days, free.
This page prints the call script, the 3 items the IRS verifies, delivery windows, and the CP-575 vs 147C split. The 147C is part of any EIN number lookup for your own entity. einnumber.co bundles retrieval into Fast at $97; new customers pay $67 Standard.
What is a 147C letter?
A 147C letter is the IRS-issued EIN verification letter that reconfirms an existing EIN. The IRS mails 1 CP-575 per EIN and never reprints it; IRS Letter 147C is the replacement. It prints the 9-digit EIN in bold, the legal name from line 1 of Form SS-4, and the address on file.
Banks, payroll providers, state agencies, and Federal Reserve merchants accept the 147C in place of the CP-575 for EIN verification. The letter carries an IRS agent signature and prints on 1 page of official letterhead with 0 tax history and 0 balance detail. The IRS names it "147C" after the internal notice code.
The 9-digit EIN on a 147C is identical to the number on the original CP-575. A 147C never changes the EIN; it only re-states it. That makes the 147C the standard proof-of-EIN document when the original confirmation is lost.
When do you need a 147C letter?
You need a 147C when a third party demands written EIN proof and the CP-575 is lost. 4 triggers dominate: a bank opening an account, a lender underwriting a loan, a payroll provider onboarding, and a state agency registering the entity.
| Trigger | Who asks | Accepts 147C? |
|---|---|---|
| Business bank account | Bank compliance desk | Yes |
| Loan or line of credit | Lender underwriting | Yes |
| Payroll onboarding | Payroll provider | Yes |
| State tax registration | State revenue agency | Yes |
If you only need to know the number and not the paper, a prior tax return or bank record is faster. See find a lost EIN number for the 5-step self-lookup before you call the IRS. To verify an EIN you already hold, or a vendor's EIN for a 1099, use the format checks and IRS TIN Matching instead.
How do you request a 147C letter from the IRS?
Call the IRS Business & Specialty line at 800-829-4933, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday to Friday. Say "I need a 147C letter". Provide 3 verification items: the entity legal name, the responsible party name, and the address on file. The IRS then faxes the 147C.
| Verification item | Source on Form SS-4 |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Line 1 |
| Responsible party | Line 7a |
| Address on file | Line 4a or 4b |
| Entity type | Line 9a |
Non-US callers without toll-free access dial the international line at 267-941-1099 instead. Hold times run 15 to 45 minutes. The IRS asks whether to send the 147C by fax or mail; choose fax for the 1 to 2 business-day window.
How long does a 147C letter take to arrive?
The 147C ships by 2 channels: fax in 1 to 2 business days, or mail in 4 to 6 weeks in the US and 6 to 10 weeks internationally. Fax cuts the wait by 4 to 5 weeks.
| Channel | US turnaround | International |
|---|---|---|
| Fax | 1-2 business days | 1-2 business days |
| 4-6 weeks | 6-10 weeks |
The IRS does not email the 147C. Have a working fax number, including an online fax inbox, ready before dialing 800-829-4933. 1 call and 1 fax resolve most requests the same day.
Who can request a 147C letter?
3 roles qualify: the responsible party on line 7a of Form SS-4, a corporate officer with signing authority (CEO, president, treasurer), or a Form 2848 authorized third-party designee. Parent LLCs and unauthorized accountants do not qualify. The IRS verifies identity in 100 percent of calls.
The IRS matches the caller against 3 fields: legal name, address on record, and prior filing history. A single mismatch ends the call. To add an accountant or attorney as an authorized caller, file Form 2848; the IRS logs it in 7 to 10 business days.
How does a 147C letter differ from a CP-575?
The CP-575 is the 1-time original confirmation the IRS mails within 4 to 6 weeks of EIN assignment. The 147C is the reissue you request whenever the CP-575 is lost. Both print the same 9-digit EIN and legal name; only the wording and issue date differ.
| Attribute | CP-575 | 147C |
|---|---|---|
| Issued | 1 time, automatically | On request, unlimited |
| Reprintable | No | Yes |
| Delivery | Mail only | Fax or mail |
| Key phrase | “We assigned you” | “We are confirming” |
| IRS fee | $0 | $0 |
See the EIN confirmation letter (CP-575) page for the field-by-field original, or find a lost EIN number for the full recovery path.
How does a 147C letter compare to other retrieval options?
5 options recover a lost EIN: the 147C letter, a prior tax return (Form 1120, 1120-S, or 1065) line B, bank documents, payroll W-2s, and state records. The 147C is the only IRS-issued paper proof, delivered in 1 to 2 business days by fax.
| Option | Turnaround | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 147C from IRS | 1-2 business days by fax | $0 IRS fee |
| Prior tax return line B | Immediate | $0 |
| Bank statement or letter | 1-3 business days | $0 |
| einnumber.co Fast | 6-8 business days | $97 |
What are the reference numbers for a 147C request?
Reference stats: 1 IRS line (800-829-4933), 3 authorized roles, 3 verification items, 1-2 day fax, 4-6 week mail (US), 100 percent identity checks, and a $$0 IRS fee. 5 alternate proofs replace the 147C.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IRS Business & Specialty line | 800-829-4933 |
| International line | 267-941-1099 |
| Hours | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday to Friday |
| Fax delivery | 1-2 business days |
| Mail delivery, US | 4-6 weeks |
| Mail delivery, international | 6-10 weeks |
| Wait time on hold | 15-45 minutes |
| Verification items required | 3 (name, RP, address) |
| IRS fee | $0 |
| Record retention | 3-7 years |
| IRS fax, US-based entity | 855-641-6935 |
| IRS fax, international | 855-215-1627 |
| Governing EIN statute | 26 U.S.C. 6109 |
| Entity classification rule | 26 CFR 301.7701-3 |
| Backup withholding, Section 3406 | 24 percent |
| W-9 vendor threshold | 600 dollars per year |
| Corporate tax rate | 21 percent |
| Self-employment tax | 15.3 percent |
| Address change form | Form 8822-B, within 60 days |
| Third-party authorization forms | Form 2848, Form 8821 |
Related IRS forms: Form 8822-B for address change (processed in 28 to 42 days), Form 2848 for third-party authorization (7 to 10 business days), Form W-9 for vendor verification ($600 reporting threshold, 24 percent backup withholding, 3 to 7 year retention). Corporate tax rate: 21 percent. S-corp election deadline: 75 days. Classification lock: 60 months. Self-employment rate: 15.3 percent. Social Security: 12.4 percent. Medicare: 2.9 percent.
What else do people ask about the 147C letter?
9 more questions about the IRS verification letter. The 147C costs $0 at the IRS and arrives by fax in 1 to 2 business days. Only 3 roles qualify to request it; the CP-575 is the 1-time original, the 147C is the reissue.
What is a 147C letter?
The 147C letter is the IRS EIN verification letter that reconfirms an existing EIN. The IRS issues it in place of the CP-575, the 1-time confirmation the IRS mails once and never reprints. IRS Letter 147C prints the 9-digit EIN, the legal name from line 1 of Form SS-4, the address on file, and an issue date.
How do I request a 147C letter from the IRS?
Call the IRS Business & Specialty line at 800-829-4933, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday to Friday. Say "I need a 147C letter" and give the legal name, responsible party, and address on file. The IRS faxes the 147C within 1 to 2 business days or mails it in 4 to 6 weeks.
How long does a 147C letter take to arrive?
Fax delivery runs 1 to 2 business days from the call. Mail delivery runs 4 to 6 weeks inside the US and 6 to 10 weeks internationally. The IRS asks which channel during the call; fax is fastest, so have a fax number ready before dialing 800-829-4933.
Is a 147C letter free?
Yes. The IRS charges $0 for a 147C letter, and fax delivery adds $0. The Business & Specialty line at 800-829-4933 is toll-free inside the US. Third-party retrieval services charge $30 to $150 for the call; einnumber.co Standard runs $67 and Fast runs $97.
Who can request a 147C letter?
Only 3 roles qualify: the responsible party on line 7a of Form SS-4, a corporate officer with signing authority, or a Form 2848 authorized designee. The IRS matches legal name, address, and prior filings in 100 percent of calls. A parent LLC, a friend, or an accountant with no Form 2848 does not qualify for a 147C.
What if I never received a CP-575 in the first place?
Request a 147C letter anyway. The IRS assigns an EIN whether or not you kept the CP-575, and the 147C replaces the confirmation for verification. Banks, payroll providers, and state agencies accept the 147C in place of the CP-575. Call 800-829-4933 with the 3 verification items ready; 1 call resolves it.
Can I request a 147C letter for another company?
No. The IRS releases IRS Letter 147C only to the responsible party on line 7a, an officer with signing authority, or a Form 2848 designee. Vendor EINs come from a W-9, not a 147C; W-9 line 7 carries the 9-digit EIN. Public-company EINs sit on SEC EDGAR filings and 10-K annual reports for free.
What if my address changed since the EIN was issued?
File Form 8822-B first to update the address on record; the IRS processes 8822-B in 4 to 6 weeks. The 147C then delivers to the updated address. A mismatch between the caller's stated address and the IRS record blocks the request in 100 percent of cases. Correct the address before you call 800-829-4933.
What does a 147C letter look like?
A 147C letter prints on 1 page of official IRS letterhead. The top carries the 9-digit EIN in bold XX-XXXXXXX form. Below sit the legal name from line 1 of Form SS-4, the address on file, and the issue date. An IRS agent signs it, and it shows 0 tax-return figures and 0 account-balance detail.