Guide
How to Get an EIN Verification Letter (147C)
Lost your IRS CP-575? How to get a 147C EIN verification letter from the IRS instead, and how it's used for foreign subsidiaries, banking and contracts.
Quick answer
The IRS issues the CP-575 only once, when your EIN is assigned, and doesn’t reissue it. If yours is lost, request a 147C letter from the IRS Business & Specialty Tax line. It confirms the same EIN and is normally accepted by foreign banks and registries for the same purpose.
On this page
CP-575 vs. 147C
| Letter | When issued | Replaceable? |
|---|---|---|
| CP-575 | Once, when the EIN is assigned | No |
| 147C | On request, for an existing EIN | Yes |
Step by step
Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax line
Have the EIN, legal business name and address ready. You must be an authorized person for the business.
Request a 147C letter
Ask for it to be mailed or faxed.
Check the details
Name and EIN must match your other corporate documents exactly.
If a bank insists on the CP-575
Explain that the IRS doesn’t reissue CP-575 letters and that the 147C is its official EIN verification. In practice this resolves it almost every time.
When you’ll need it abroad
- Forming a foreign subsidiary
- Opening a corporate bank account abroad
- Foreign tax or VAT registration
- Supplier and tender registration overseas
Troubleshooting
The IRS won't talk to you
Only authorized persons for the business can request the 147C — confirm you're listed as one.
The name on the 147C differs from your registration
The IRS name must match your filings; fix mismatches with the IRS before using it abroad.
You need it the same day
Ask for it by fax on the call.
The bank wants articles of incorporation too
Those are state documents with their own route — see our state pages.
Next: getting it apostilled
Once you have the document, it needs authentication before a foreign authority will accept it. See how to apostille it. Our price is $299 per document for Hague Convention countries and $399 for non-Hague countries including embassy legalization, with government fees included.
Frequently asked questions
Can the IRS resend my CP-575?
No. It's issued once. Request a 147C letter instead.
Who can request a 147C?
An authorized person for the business, such as an owner or officer.
Will a foreign bank accept a 147C?
Normally yes — it's the IRS's official EIN verification letter.
Is a 147C an original document?
Yes — it's an IRS-issued letter and can be authenticated like the CP-575.
Can I get a 147C for a closed business?
Generally yes, while the EIN exists in IRS records.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Authenticate Your Document · Hague Conference — Apostille Section. Federal Apostille USA is a private service, not a government agency.
Ready to start?
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