Federal document
Federal Corporate Document Apostille (EIN / CP-575)
How to apostille an IRS EIN confirmation letter (CP-575) and other federal corporate documents for foreign subsidiaries, banking and contracts. $299 flat, all government fees included.
Quick answer
An IRS EIN letter is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State for $299 with us. The IRS issues the CP-575 only once; if it’s lost, request a 147C letter instead. Articles of incorporation and good-standing certificates are state documents with their own route.
Don’t have it yet? How to Get an EIN Verification Letter (147C) →
- Issuing agency
- Internal Revenue Service / various federal agencies
- We can obtain it?
- No — you request it from the issuing agency
- Certification first?
- Depends on the document — we confirm the route
- Also known as
- EIN letter, CP-575, EIN confirmation, 147C letter
Federal corporate documents — most often the IRS EIN confirmation letter (CP-575) — are required when forming a foreign subsidiary, opening an overseas bank account, registering with a foreign authority, or signing international contracts. Foreign registries want proof that your U.S. entity exists and is federally registered, and they want it authenticated.
There's a wrinkle with the CP-575 specifically that catches a lot of companies out.
On this page
What federal corporate documents are
The most commonly authenticated is the IRS CP-575 — the letter confirming your Employer Identification Number was assigned. Others include federal agency registrations and licences tied to a business. What they have in common is a federal issuer, which is what puts them on the Department of State route rather than a state one.
Why it needs an apostille abroad
A foreign registry, bank, or counterparty cannot verify a U.S. federal document independently. The apostille certifies it as genuine across the 120-plus Hague Convention countries; non-Hague destinations require that authentication plus embassy or consulate legalization.
Getting the document
If you have the original CP-575 from when the EIN was assigned, that's your document. If it's lost, request a 147C letter from the IRS Business and Specialty Tax line — it confirms the same EIN assignment and is widely accepted in its place.
Depending on the document and the destination, a certification step may be needed before federal authentication. We confirm the route for your specific document before anything is signed.
CP-575 vs. 147C letter
| Document | When you get it | Can it be reissued? |
|---|---|---|
| CP-575 | Once, when the EIN is first assigned | No — the IRS does not reissue it |
| 147C letter | On request, confirming an existing EIN | Yes — request from the IRS by phone |
Both evidence the same thing: that the IRS assigned your EIN. If a foreign bank insists on "the CP-575" and you no longer have it, the 147C is the practical answer — tell them it's the IRS's official EIN verification letter.
Federal vs. state corporate documents
Most corporate paperwork is state-issued, not federal: articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, formation documents, and certified corporate filings all come from the Secretary of State where the entity was formed. Those authenticate through that state, not through the U.S. Department of State.
A typical foreign subsidiary file needs both — the federal EIN letter and state corporate documents. We authenticate Florida state documents directly; documents from other states need an apostille from their own Secretary of State first, and for non-Hague destinations we can then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps.
Document preparation requirements
- Confirm whether each document is federal or state — they take different routes.
- Submit the IRS letter exactly as issued.
- Do not notarize a federal record — it invalidates it for authentication.
- Don't laminate, staple across the text, highlight, or annotate it.
- Tell us the destination country and the full list of documents the foreign registry requires.
The step-by-step process
Tell us what the registry requires
Foreign subsidiary files usually mix federal and state documents. We sort which goes where before you start.
Obtain the documents
CP-575 if you have it, or request a 147C from the IRS. State documents come from the relevant Secretary of State.
Send them to us
We review each against the requirements for its route.
Authentication
Federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State; state documents route through the issuing state.
Apostilles issued
You receive apostilles (Hague) or authentication certificates (non-Hague) on each document.
Embassy legalization & translation, if required
For non-Hague destinations we handle legalization, and arrange certified translation for the registry.
Common rejection reasons — and how to avoid them
1. State corporate document sent for federal authentication
Articles and good-standing certificates are state documents. Fix: route those through the issuing state.
2. Waiting for a CP-575 reissue
The IRS doesn't reissue it. Fix: request a 147C letter instead.
3. Notarized federal letter
A notary can't certify a federal record. Fix: submit it as issued.
4. Incomplete document set
Registries usually require several documents together. Fix: confirm the full list before starting.
5. Altered or annotated letter
Any marking invalidates it. Fix: submit it clean and unmodified.
Common uses
- Foreign subsidiary formation — registering a U.S. parent with an overseas registry.
- International banking — opening corporate accounts abroad under KYC requirements.
- Cross-border contracts — evidencing the entity's federal registration.
- Foreign tax and VAT registration — where the EIN must be verified.
- Tenders and procurement abroad — proving corporate standing.
Hague vs. non-Hague countries
| Destination | What you receive | Extra step |
|---|---|---|
| Hague country | Apostille from the U.S. Department of State | None — ready to use |
| Non-Hague country | Authentication certificate | Embassy / consulate legalization |
Pick your destination below, or see all countries we serve.
Official references: IRS — Employer ID Numbers · U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document. Government fees are set by these agencies and are separate from our service fee.
Federal Corporate Documents apostille by country
Where the document is going decides the route. Hague members accept an apostille; non-Hague countries need embassy legalization on top. Pick your destination:
Federal Corporate Documents by U.S. state
Federal documents are authenticated in Washington, D.C. from every state — but your state decides where state and notarized documents go. Find yours:
Federal Corporate Documents — FAQ
I lost my CP-575 — can the IRS send another?
No. The IRS issues the CP-575 only once, when the EIN is assigned, and won't reissue it. Request a 147C letter instead — it confirms the same EIN and is normally accepted by foreign registries and banks for the same purpose.
My foreign bank specifically asked for the CP-575. Will a 147C work?
In practice, almost always. The 147C is the IRS's official EIN verification letter and serves the same evidentiary purpose. If the bank pushes back, that's usually resolved by explaining the IRS doesn't reissue CP-575s.
Can you apostille my articles of incorporation?
Those are state documents, issued by the Secretary of State where you formed the entity, so they authenticate through that state rather than federally. We authenticate Florida state documents directly; documents from other states need an apostille from their own Secretary of State first, and for non-Hague destinations we can then handle the U.S. Department of State and embassy steps.
What documents does a foreign subsidiary file usually need?
Typically a mix: the federal EIN letter, plus state documents like articles of incorporation and a certificate of good standing. Send us the registry's list and we'll sort which goes where.
How long does it take?
Federal apostille processing runs about 10–12 business days once we have the document. State routing timelines vary. Non-Hague countries add embassy legalization.
What does it cost?
Federal apostille is $299 per document, with government authentication fees and U.S. shipping included. For state documents, pricing depends on the state and destination.
Can you handle several documents at once?
Yes, and it's usually faster and cheaper than running them separately. Corporate files almost always involve multiple documents — we batch them.
Will I need certified translations?
Foreign registries commonly require documents in their official language. We can arrange certified translation alongside the apostilles.
Ready to start?
Order online in minutes, or call and we will walk you through it. Federal documents from anywhere in the U.S. — one flat price, all government fees included.